Dear Friends:
It is my pleasure to tell you about an exciting reading campaign called Cool Books. Studies show that if we are to increase literacy, education is only half the solution. Not only must students receive quality teaching, but also they must have access to quality and age-appropriate books.

The Cool Books campaign for classroom read-aloud libraries allows easier access to quality books in the classroom as a complement to materials available in the media center. The program also develops partnerships among schools, businesses and community organizations.

My administration is committed to improving education in South Carolina. I hope you will enjoy Cool Books as an addition to my Focus on Reading and that our children will discover how cool reading really is!

What is Cool Books?  

Cool Books is a fun reading initiative designed to develop a partnership among schools, businesses, and community organizations for the specific purpose of furnishing individual pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade classrooms with quality, age-appropriate books. Through the program, donors can purchase coolers that contain 20-30 books for classroom read- aloud libraries. Donors will write a check for $150 per cooler payable to the school itself. 
  
* Donors are now able to purchase Cool Books for students in sixth through eighth grade. The brochures will reflect this extension soon.

Who developed Cool Books? 

Governor Hodges teamed with the Governor’s Institute of Reading at the South Carolina Department of Education, and two corporate sponsors, the R. L. Bryan Company and State Farm Insurance, to develop Cool Books.        

How can I participate? 

To join others who are making a difference in our schools by furnishing students with classroom read-aloud libraries, download the brochure on this web site and mail your order form to the school of your choice today. Or, call Governor Hodges’ Focus on Reading at (803) 737-1825. Please leave your mailing address and ask to receive Cool Books order forms in the mail.                                              

The R. L. Bryan Company, "The House of Quality", has served schools and teachers since 1844. It donated a generous amount of time and resources to make the vision of Cool Books a reality.                                                                                                   

State Farm Insurance recognizes the importance of education in helping people manage their everyday lives and realize their dreams. That is why State Farm is committed to working with others in business, education and the community at large to improve academic achievement for all students. State Farm is proud to be a part of the Cool Books campaign.
                                                                                                                     

Benefactor

The Hootie and the Blowfish Foundation Fund was established in 2000 in conjunction with the Central Carolina Community Foundation to benefit children in South Carolina through education. The band provided every classroom in Florence School District Four with a cooler of Cool Books.                                                                                   

*** Attention Schools – after you receive a Cool Books order form and a check made payable to your school, you will turn around and write a check payable to the R. L. Bryan Company for the necessary amount. Then, send your check and the order form to:

The R. L. Bryan Company Attention: Joan Stevenson 301 Greystone Boulevard Columbia, South Carolina 29210

Questions? Call Governor Hodges’ Focus on Reading at (803) 737-1825.