Authors Endorse National Read Across America Day on March 3, 2014

I am a huge believer in reading to your kids from in the womb until they leave for college.  It is so important to expose our children to the world of words as much as possible!  Not only does it allow for family bonding, but it can help teach different lessons or idea's while helping a child learn grammar skills!  How often do you read to or with your kids?  
How will you be participating in National Read Across America Day?  Check out what some other people are doing and cool tools for your kids:

Chris Kent Phelps and Cindy Kent support the National Education Association's awareness initiative, use storytelling to help shape appropriate 

Dallas, TX -- Feb 25, 2014 / (http://www.myprgenie.com) -- The National Education Association (NEA) is building a nation of readers through its signature program, Read Across America. Mother-daughter duo Chris Kent Phelps and Cindy Kent, co-authors of Margo's (Max's) Magnificent Choice, are strong supporters of the annual event.

Margo's (Max's) Magnificent Choice is illustrated by Kent and sold exclusively with the Tacky Box Set, which Phelps developed. Phelps is a Dallas mother of two; Kent taught art privately for a number of years and is currently a professional artist. The two bring decades of commitment to student achievement and creativity rooted in the importance of reading.

"Read Across America helps drive home the importance of reading to help teach children about the world around them," Phelps says. "This world isn't always a fairy tale. Often, the best lessons learned are those through easily relatable characters, engaging storyline and memorable illustrations. By encouraging reading at a young age, we are helping our children to become smarter, more worldly and, in the case of Margo's (Max's) Magnificent Choice, more aware of the outcome of both good and poor behavior."

"It is our intention to arm every kindergartner with his or her own Tacky Box Set to use at home. We've partnered with educators to create a curriculum to roll out the concept in schools," Phelps adds. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, students who don't read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma when compared to proficient readers. Additionally, studies show that children learn an average of 4,000 to 12,000 new words each year as a result of book reading. It's important that children be exposed to as much language as possible at an early age, and this begins with reading to children before they are old enough to learn to read.

The Children's Book Review describes Margo's (Max's) Magnificent Choice as a "well-written story that teaches kids about the power of words and the impact of making good choices. When combined with the Tacky Box, the story makes a very effective and hands-on parenting tool and proves that learning about kindness can be very fun."

Now in its 17th year, Read Across America promotes a week of reading across the nation as NEA members gather students, parents and community members together to share their love of reading beginning March 3, 2014.

Tacky Box, the creation of a mother, grandmother and daughter, equips children with skills to choose to be kind rather than repeat tacky words and actions. This educational children's book set designed by Chris Kent Phelps and Cindy Kent is $29.95 and includes an authentic Tacky Box, a 32-page Margo's (or Max's) Magnificent Choice book, and a note pad illustrated with monkeys to use for writing down tacky words. Margo's (or Max's) Magnificent Choice tells the story of Phelps' daughter's experience with the Tacky Box through the eyes of monkeys living in a jungle. Tacky Box Set arms parents with a fun, positive way to help their children distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate language and actions.  The set is available online at www.TackyBox.com.

About the Tacky Box Set:The Tacky Box Set is available for purchase at www.TackyBox.com. Each set costs $29.95 plus shipping and includes an authenticTacky Box, a 32-page Margo's (or Max's) Magnificent Choice book, and an illustrated notepad for writing down tacky words and actions.

For more information on the Tacky Box Set, go to www.TackyBox.com or on Facebook -- www.facebook.com/TheTackyBox, Twitter --www.twitter.com/thetackybox, YouTube -- www.youtube.com/thetackybox or  Pinterest -- www.pinterest.com/thetackybox.

About the NEA Foundation:The NEA Foundation, through the unique strength of its partnership with educators, advances student achievement by investing in public education that will prepare each of America's children to learn and thrive in a rapidly changing world.