Readbooks! Frequently Asked Questions

Reading is the first step toward literacy. ReadBooks! Because Braille Matters encourages families to consider braille at the earliest possible age and to read print/braille books together at home. Braille is the only independent means of reading and writing for a child who cannot see.

Proficiency in braille is strongly correlated to future success in school and in the job market. The majority of blind people who are competitively employed use braille. Studies show the most proficient braille readers are those who started braille at a young age and who received frequent braille instruction in school.

Families with young blind children, birth through seven, receive a free ReadBooks! book bag containing print/braille books, a braille primer for parents, braille alphabet cards, bookmarks, a colorful print/braille place mat, and a resource book.

In most cases, National Braille Press works with early intervention professionals and teachers of the visually impaired who identify families for the program and who deliver the bags. No disclosure of families' personal information is required. Agencies identify the number of families who could benefit and NBP sends them the requisite number of bags.

Start-up funds for the ReadBooks! program came from Mellon Charitable Trust. A significant grant from Readers Digest Partnership for Sight Foundation launched the program in 15 states across the country. Additional funding from other foundations will enable us to continue to reach every blind preschooler in the country.

ReadBooks! bags are appropriate not only for totally blind children but also for visually impaired children whose vision may be unstable or who may not be able to efficiently read print when the material is too lengthy or complex. Program participants are encouraged to request a book bag for any potential braille reader.

Sorry! This program is designed and funded as a family outreach project and our book bags are intended for distribution to families. If, however, you or your agency wishes to purchase a bag, the cost is $55.

Yes, please do! Family members are welcome to order book bags for their children.

Please help us by ordering only the bags you need at this time. Unless we are temporarily out of stock, we promise to ship book bags within a week of finalizing your order. (99% of the time, we ship bags to you by the next business day!)

Due to funding restrictions, we are not currently able to offer ReadBooks! bags to older children. If this would be an important resource to you for older students, though, please let us know.

ReadBooks! bags are available in English and Spanish.

"Just Enough to Know Better," a braille primer, cannot be translated into Spanish because Spanish braille does not contain contractions.

Thanks to generous support from several foundations, book bags are sent free to families throughout the United States and Canada. Parents and professionals from other countries who would like to obtain a book bag can purchase one for $55 U.S., plus shipping costs. To inquire about overseas shipping costs, contact our customer service department at orders@nbp.org. Be sure to include your mailing address.

Before you order ReadBooks! bags, please review our participation agreement. You can order ReadBooks! bags by filling out our ReadBooks! order form. You may also call us at (888) 965-8965, ext. 34.