New Worlds Reading showcases free at-home literary program in Central Florida
Applications are open to connect eligible students and their families to Florida’s free literacy resources
LITERARY ADVENTURES, HANDS ON FUN AND A WORLD OF IMAGINATION. THAT’S WHAT’S IN STORE FOR LOCAL FAMILIES TODAY. WHEN NEW WORLDS READING BOOK BASH BEGINS, IT’S ALL PART OF A FREE AT HOME LITERACY PROGRAM, HELPING STUDENTS STRENGTHEN THEIR SKILLS AND ALSO FOSTER A LOVE OF READING. AND JOINING ME NOW TO TELL US ALL ABOUT THIS EVENT AND OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES. NASHIEQA DENNIS, THE COORDINATOR, AND REAGAN CASEY, A PREVIOUS STUDENT. WELCOME, LADIES. THANKS FOR COMING ON TODAY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY, SO THIS IS SO EXCITING. LET ME START WITH YOU. WHAT IS THIS PROGRAM ALL ABOUT? FILL US IN. YEAH. SO NEW WORLD READING. WE ARE A FREE STATEWIDE BOOK DELIVERY PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE VPK TO FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA. STUDENTS WHO APPLY AND ARE ELIGIBLE RECEIVE FREE BOOKS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND THE BOOKS AND RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, HAITIAN, CREOLE, AND BRAILLE. HOW WONDERFUL. OKAY, SO YOU MENTIONED THEY APPLY IN THEIR ELIGIBLE. SO WHAT ARE WHAT’S THE CRITERIA CRITERIA TO BECOME ELIGIBLE. YES. ELIGIBILITY ARE. WE’RE LOOKING FOR OUR STRIVING READERS WHO ARE NOT YET READING ON GRADE LEVEL. HOWEVER, WE HAVE A FUN THING AROUND THE TEAM. WHEN IN DOUBT, FILL IT OUT. SO EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT SURE IF YOUR STUDENT IS ELIGIBLE, WE ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO APPLY AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AND WE’LL HAVE IT ON HOLD. AND IF YOUR STUDENT FOR SOME REASON BECOMES ELIGIBLE, THEY’LL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE BOOKS. OKAY. THAT’S GREAT. THAT’S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE FOR KIDS FOR SURE. REAGAN, TELL ME ABOUT YOU. SO YOU’RE ONE OF THE STUDENTS A SUCCESS STORY, RIGHT? YES. OKAY. SO TELL ME HOW HOW DID YOU START HERE WITH NEW WORLD? NEW WORLD? READING IT JUST LIKE IT’S SO FUN TO READ BOOKS FOR ME. AND IT BOOSTED MY CONFIDENCE IN READING A LOT. OKAY, SO TELL ME ABOUT THAT. WE’RE GOING IN. WERE YOU WERE NOT AS CONFIDENT OR DIDN’T ENJOY READING AS MUCH? YEAH, I DEFINITELY DID NOT ENJOY READING AS MUCH AND WASN’T THAT CONFIDENT. SO HOW DID THIS PROGRAM HELP YOU? WHAT DID IT DO THAT GAVE YOU THAT CONFIDENCE? IT MADE ME MORE CONFIDENT IN READING BY LIKE HELPING ME UNDERSTAND BIGGER WORDS AND GIVING ME MORE FLUENCY IN READING. EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT. AND SO WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS TO MAYBE SOME OTHER STUDENTS THAT ARE KIND OF UNSURE? YEAH, I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO OTHER STUDENTS WHO ARE UNSURE BECAUSE READING IS SUCH A FUN ACTIVITY AND IT CAN HELP YOU LEARN SO MANY NEW THINGS. AND IT’S REALLY, IT’S A REALLY GOOD SKILL TOO. ABSOLUTELY. IT OPENS UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD, RIGHT? YES. AND THAT’S WHY I LOVE THE NAME. TELL ME ABOUT THE BOOK BASH. SO WHAT IS THAT EVENT? SO THE BOOK BASH IS OUR ANNUAL EVENT THAT WE HOST THIS YEAR IN ORANGE COUNTY. SUPER EXCITED. AND WHAT IT IS, IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR FAMILIES TO ENGAGE IN OUR RESOURCES TO GET TO MEET THE TEAM. WE HAVE INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES, WE HAVE READ ALOUDS THAT TAKE PLACE AS WELL, AND IT’S JUST, AGAIN, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF NEURAL JOURNEY, KNOW WHO WE ARE, JUST ARE CURIOUS. AN OPPORTUNITY JUST TO COME SPEND AN EVENING WITH US AND REALLY ENGAGE WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. OH, THAT’S SO IMPORTANT. OKAY. IS THIS SOLD OUT? IS IT FREE TO THE PUBLIC? ARE THERE TICKETS? HOW DOES THAT WORK OUT? SO IT IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT IT IS SOLD OUT. HOWEVER, FAMILIES CAN STILL APPLY TO NEW WORLDS READING IF THEY APPLY BY JULY 12TH, THEY’LL RECEIVE 11 BOOKS IN ONE SHIPMENT. SO AGAIN, JULY 12TH IS THAT DATE TO RECEIVE BOOKS AND APPLY FOR READING? OKAY, I LOVE IT. OKAY. SO ARE THERE ANY BOOKS THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO RECOMMEND TODAY TO OUR VIEWERS? REAGAN, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE THAT YOU’RE READING OR MAYBE YOU KNOW, JUST A FEW THAT YOU’VE READ IN THE PAST THAT YOU THOUGHT, OKAY, THIS IS A GREAT BOOK. I’M GOING TO TELL MY FRIENDS ABOUT IT. THAT’S A GOOD QUESTION. HONESTLY, IT’S REALLY HARD TO CHOOSE LIKE ONE BOOK THAT’S LIKE MY FAVORITE BECAUSE I JUST LOVE BOOKS SO MUCH A SERIES. IS THERE A SERIES OUT THERE THAT YOU’RE A FAN OF? I REALLY LIKE THE I SURVIVED SERIES. IT’S JUST REALLY INTERESTING TO LEARN ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE SURVIVE, LIKE DIFFERENT DISASTROUS EVENTS TO ME. REAGAN, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, MY OLDEST SON LOVES THOSE. WE HAVE A TON OF THOSE. I SURVIVED AND I HAD NEVER I DIDN’T READ THOSE GROWING UP. SO THAT WAS REALLY EYE OPENING FOR ME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, JUST TO SEE HOW BOOKS HAVE EVOLVED AND WHAT THE YOUNGER GENERATION NOW READ A LOT. THOSE WERE BOOKS I DID NOT READ. SO I ENJOY THOSE. THAT’S A GREAT CALL TO SEE ANYTHING OUT THERE THAT YOU WANT TO RECOMMEND TO OUR VIEWERS. YEAH, I JUST REALLY, I THINK FOR ME, IT’S THE FACT THAT THE BOOKS THAT THE STUDENTS RECEIVE ARE BASED OFF THEIR INTEREST. EXCELLENT. SO I THINK I’M BIASED, BUT I LOVE ALL THE BOOKS THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE STUDENTS. GREAT. YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON TONIGHT. I HOPE THE BOOK BASH HERE IS A TERRIFIC EVE
New Worlds Reading showcases free at-home literary program in Central Florida
Applications are open to connect eligible students and their families to Florida’s free literacy resources
Updated: 9:57 AM EDT Apr 24, 2026
More than 85,000 Orange County students ranging from voluntary prekindergarten to the fifth grade are eligible for extra reading support through New Worlds Reading, Florida’s free at-home literacy program.The program ships curated books, activities and resources directly to students’ homes to help strengthen their literacy skills. According to organizers, the program has distributed more than 13 million books to more than 500,000 children across Florida since 2021. Books are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and braille. New Worlds Reading’s regional partners coordinator and previous program recipient, Reagan Casey, joins WESH 2 with a preview of the “Book Bash” at the Orlando Science Center on Friday, May 24. The event aims to connect families with New Worlds Reading resources through hands-on activities, free book giveaways and more. Click here to learn more about program eligibility.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
More than 85,000 Orange County students ranging from voluntary prekindergarten to the fifth grade are eligible for extra reading support through New Worlds Reading, Florida’s free at-home literacy program.
The program ships curated books, activities and resources directly to students’ homes to help strengthen their literacy skills.
According to organizers, the program has distributed more than 13 million books to more than 500,000 children across Florida since 2021.
Books are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and braille.
New Worlds Reading’s regional partners coordinator and previous program recipient, Reagan Casey, joins WESH 2 with a preview of the “Book Bash” at the Orlando Science Center on Friday, May 24.
The event aims to connect families with New Worlds Reading resources through hands-on activities, free book giveaways and more.