Literacy development begins very early, so reading to young children has a huge impact on the development of skills they will need for the rest of their lives. That's why for the fourth year, the Verizon Foundation is supporting Pennsylvania's One Book, Every Young Child program.

One Book encourages the adults in children's lives to read to them and engage them in interactive learning experiences. The Verizon Foundation's $40,000 grant will support the distribution of children's book "If You Were a Penguin," written by Florence Minor and illustrated by Wendell Minor, to more than 15,000 childcare facilities, licensed preschools, Head Start programs and family literacy programs.

At the launch of the 2009 program at the state capitol, Gale Given, president of Verizon Pennsylvania said, "Verizon is proud to partner with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Office of Commonwealth Libraries in this program that empowers young children and their families with the skills, passion and enthusiasm to pursue a life of learning."

One Book, Every Young Child reaches more than one-half million three-to-six-year-old children each year. The Verizon grant will help the initiative target a majority of the state's low-income, pre-school children.

"Through this initiative, we're providing children and their families with the opportunity to learn and grow together as they develop the skills they need to succeed in school and in life," said Pennsylvania Public Welfare Secretary Estelle Richman.

For more information about One Book, Every Young Child visit www.paonebook.org.