Year of the Book

Year of the Book is sponsored by Children's Literacy Foundation. Provides literacy programs and new children's books to schools in New Hampshire and Vermont.

Children of Incarcerated Adults Community Literacy Conference Grant Application Guidelines Up to $25,000 in Literacy Support for Your School CLiF’s flagship grant program is an intensive, academic year-plus partnership designed to support students, educators, and families in public elementary schools across New Hampshire and Vermont.

Through a combination of literacy programming, professional support, and access to high-quality children’s books, the program helps schools build and sustain a culture of literacy. Each Year of the Book partnership provides over $25,000 in literacy support and new books. We prioritize schools that serve a high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch and students performing below proficiency in reading and writing.

Since its launch in 2011, CLiF has partnered with 155 public elementary schools.

Meet Our 2025-26 Grant Partners Activities and Support Include Over $25,000 in literacy programming and books delivered over two years A wide range of literacy-focused programs during the school year, along with additional supports New, high-quality children’s books for every student to keep, with opportunities to choose from hundreds of engaging titles Continued programming in the subsequent academic year to sustain a focus on literacy Goals for Year of the Book Strengthen and supplement schools’ existing literacy efforts Encourage enthusiasm for reading among students from preK through grade 6 Inspire children to read and write for pleasure Support educators’ literacy curricula and creative, cross-disciplinary instruction Ensure every child has a meaningful collection of books at home Build stronger connections between schools and local public libraries Increase family engagement in children’s literacy and reading at home Grant Eligibility Requirements Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Public schools located in New Hampshire or Vermont may apply.

To be eligible, schools must: Serve students in grades preK–6 Middle schools may apply for grades 5–6 Have at least 35% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch * Have at least 30% of students scoring below proficient in reading and writing assessments *Schools slightly below the 35% threshold may still apply if they can explain challenges related to data collection or community circumstances.

CLiF recognizes that need may not always be fully reflected in reported percentages. How Many Students Can Participate? Year of the Book programming has the greatest impact when serving 300 students or fewer .

Schools with larger enrollments may still apply and will be asked to select specific participating grades. Is There an Option for Smaller Schools? Yes.

CLiF offers a Small School Grant for schools serving 100 or fewer students (preK–6) . Provides the same core supports Scales select elements to better fit smaller school communities Schools must complete the same application to be considered. Who Serves as the Grant Coordinator?

Each school must identify an enthusiastic and organized staff member to serve as a grant coordinator (or co-coordinators). Grant coordinators collaborate with CLiF throughout the year to support program planning and implementation. Coordinators receive an $800 stipend (co-coordinators split the stipend).

How Are Applications Reviewed?

Applications are evaluated based on: Demonstrated need, including free/reduced lunch data, literacy assessment results, and written responses Geographic location and CLiF grant history Enthusiasm, creativity, and collaboration demonstrated by school staff Clear explanation of how the grant will benefit students and families Readiness and commitment to meeting program requirements How Often Can a School Apply?

Schools that have previously received a Year of the Book grant must wait five years from the completion of their grant before reapplying. For questions about eligibility, the application process, or technical support, please contact CLiF Program Manager Cassie Willner at cassie@clifonline. org .

The next application period opens in January 2027.