K.I.D.S. Distributes Bilingual Literacy DVDs

To help build reading skills, children's charity Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc., has distributed 55,000 bilingual (English/Spanish) DVDs to agencies with literacy programs for disadvantaged youths in four major inner city areas (New York City, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles) and on Native American reservations.

The new DVD is the second research-based educational DVD produced by PBS KIDS Raising Readers to promote literacy and includes episodes and music videos from the popular PBS shows "Super Why!" and "WordWorld." The DVD introduces children to the two shows and related Web activities and is designed to get them excited about building the skills they need to learn to read.

K.I.D.S., which for several years has promoted literacy among children in need through its free distributions nationwide of books and educational materials, distributed the DVDs on behalf of WTTW and The Ready to Learn Partnership, LLC. PBS Raising Readers is part of the Ready to Learn initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education, in partnership with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and The Ready to Learn Partnership.

The DVD includes Miss Rosa, the new host for the PBS KIDS Pre-school Block, who provides tips for parents on how to turn any time into reading time with fun and simple reading games and activities. "While the featured series and music videos are in English, and teach English skills, the goal of the bilingual prologue by Miss Rosa is to help reach parents and caregivers, who may also be English language learners and who will benefit greatly from the DVD's bilingual introduction option as well as Miss Rosa's accessibility," according to the PBS Education Newsletter.

Website: http://www.kidsdonations.org/