The United States has witnessed a disturbing trend in recent years: a decline in literacy rates. According to the National Literacy Institute, 54% of American adults read at or below a fifth-grade level. Meanwhile, early literacy assessments reveal that many children are not meeting expected reading standards by third grade. This literacy crisis presents long-term challenges in education and all other aspects of society.
The factors behind the decline in literacy rates are complex. One of them is the increased focus on standardized testing in schools. Such tests usually emphasize specific reading skills in isolation instead of nurturing holistic reading comprehension and enjoyment. Many students may be able to “read” words on a page, but they struggle to deeply comprehend and apply critical thinking. In other words, they read only at a surface level.
Limited access to diverse reading materials and insufficient opportunities for children to choose books that truly interest them also contribute to declining literacy. Schools and libraries in lower-income areas may not have the resources to offer a variety of reading materials. In turn, children’s exposure to genres and topics they find engaging is limited.
Luana Mitten, founder of BeaLu Books, a Florida-based independent children’s book publisher, advocates for a fresh approach to cultivating literacy amid the crisis. Stressing the role of literacy in lifelong learning and independence, she aims to empower children to read for meaning, comprehension, and critical thinking.
“Literacy affects every area of our lives, especially children’s,” she states. “If you find reading difficult, you’ll struggle in every other area. Reading is foundational to critical thinking, and without this skill, we miss out on learning to think for ourselves.”
Mitten emphasizes that children must learn to question and evaluate what they read instead of merely absorbing information. She believes that by honing these skills through diverse, high-quality reading materials, children can become independent thinkers who feel confident engaging with the world.
The founder advocates for children to self-select reading materials outside of the bustle of classrooms, diversifying the types of reading materials they are exposed to in order to combat declining literacy rates. Mitten argues that children should be allowed to choose books that genuinely interest them. It doesn’t matter if they’re comics, nonfiction on sports, fashion, or picture books. “Reading is reading,” she says. “If children can pick up a book on something they’re passionate about, they start to see the value in it outside the four corners of the classroom.”
For the former educator, the traditional approach of focusing on assigned reading levels and rigid curricula is counterproductive. She states that letting children explore various reading materials creates an authentic love for reading, allowing them to develop comprehension and critical thinking skills naturally.
BeaLu Books reflects its founder’s philosophy, offering books that engage and challenge young readers of all backgrounds and reading levels. The independent publisher intentionally incorporates the Three-Cueing System (MSV)—Meaning, Structure, and Visual Cues—into the design of its books to create an accessible and enriching experience for them. Marie Clay, a New Zealand researcher, and Kenneth Goodman, an American academic, developed this approach in the late 1960s, recognizing the need for a reading process that integrates various forms of knowledge.
The Meaning cue prompts readers to ask, “Does that make sense?” Readers can gather clues about the story’s content using contextual information, illustrations, or photos, which aids in comprehension. BeaLu Books integrates this aspect by using vibrant illustrations that extend the story’s meaning.
On the other hand, Structure cues urge readers to consider grammar and syntax, posing questions like “Does that sound right?” Thinking about sentence construction helps children intuitively identify whether a sentence follows the rules of English. Meanwhile, Visual Cues encourage looking at letters and letter patterns in unfamiliar words, asking, “Do I know that word?” They help children decode words by associating them with recognizable letters and sounds.
“We intentionally use meaning, structure, and visual cues when creating books,” says Mitten. “If we know a certain word might be challenging, we make sure the illustrations or surrounding language supports understanding. We want every child to feel included and confident and not feel like they’re reading a ‘lesser’ book.”
BeaLu Books, therefore, intends to launch a new monthly subscription service beginning in December, with the first delivery scheduled for January. Subscribers will receive a curated box featuring one book, alternating between fiction and nonfiction. Interactive activities like crafts, directed drawing, and literacy exercises are also included in the box, bringing the story to life.
Mitten notes that everyone involved in developing the subscription boxes has a background in education and parenthood, which informs the hands-on, developmental approach to the activities included. The subscription is available in three-month increments, with options to subscribe for up to twelve months. With this, children can have continuous, diverse literacy experiences throughout the year, contributing to addressing the literary crisis.
Mitten expresses her hope for what the BeaLu Books’ subscription service can achieve: “Our mission is to bring joy back to reading. We want to see children pick up a book and feel excited. We wish that by giving them the freedom to explore topics they love, we can help nurture a generation of readers who think for themselves and appreciate the power of stories.”
This post was originally published on here
