The literacy crisis
Working in children's books, I see the incredible potential of books to transform young minds—to build vocabulary, develop empathy, and inspire curiosity. Yet I also know the sobering statistics about how many children may never access these benefits because they lack fundamental reading skills. As someone who has both taught phonics lessons and now helps shape stories for young readers, I constantly think about the high stakes of literacy learning.
We face a troubling reality: we are in the midst of a literacy crisis. What alarms me most isn't just the statistics about literacy learning—though they are concerning—but the ripple effects on critical and creative thinking abilities that shape our society's future.
The literacy challenges we face today aren't simple, nor are they the fault of any single group. Our dedicated teachers work within systems facing numerous constraints. Families juggle competing demands on time and attention. Children navigate a digital landscape that previous generations never experienced. Understanding this crisis requires acknowledging its complexity while recognizing that solutions exist—if we have the collective intention to implement them.
The Current State of Literacy in America
On average, only 79% of U.S. adults are considered literate in 2024, leaving approximately 43 million adults struggling with basic literacy skills. More than half of American adults read below a sixth-grade level, and almost one in five reads below a third-grade level. The U.S. ranks 36th globally in literacy rates.
Twenty-five million children in America cannot read proficiently. One in four children grows up without learning how to read. 47% of kindergarteners were reading at grade level during the 2021-2022 school year—down from 55% before the pandemic.
The literacy crisis doesn't affect all communities equally. There are significant disparities along socioeconomic lines, with children whose parents have low literacy skills being 72% more likely to be at the lowest reading levels themselves—perpetuating a cycle that can trap families in poverty for generations. Geographic disparities are also evident, with New Hampshire having the highest adult literacy rate in the country, while California has the lowest.
The Causes of the Literacy Crisis
This situation stems from a complex interplay of factors. Educational approaches remain divided and only recently have states begun implementing new reading policies. Technology presents another challenge, with research showing that digital media can impair attention span in adolescents, while visual attention directly impacts reading ability.
Meanwhile, societal shifts have reduced time for pleasure reading and created unequal access to books, with the pandemic and the upswing of book bans only wideneding these gaps.
Impact on Critical Thinking
Literacy and critical thinking are deeply intertwined cognitive processes. Recent studies show that critical thinking skills contribute significantly to reading comprehension success, and in turn, deep reading practices strengthen analytical capabilities.
When we read, particularly when we engage with complex texts, we practice evaluating evidence, recognizing patterns, making inferences, and questioning assumptions. In today's content-heavy environment, the ability to critically evaluate sources and detect misinformation is essential.
The relationship between reading and creative thinking is equally significant, which is explored in this study. Research has found that extensive reading and writing practices correlate with higher creative performance. Studies indicate that habitual reading and writing have a positive relationship with creative thinking abilities.
Reading diverse materials helps build the cognitive flexibility required for creative problem-solving. Literature's role in developing empathy and perspective-taking extends our ability to imagine different possibilities and solutions. The rich vocabulary developed through reading provides the linguistic tools needed for creative expression.
When children and adults read widely, they encounter varied ideas, perspectives, and modes of thinking that fuel their own creative capacities. This exposure to different voices and viewpoints builds the mental flexibility that innovation requires.
Not only that, but the ripple effects of the literacy crisis extend far beyond individuals.
Looking at Solutions
Despite the gravity of the literacy dilemma, research offers clear guidance on effective solutions. These approaches span from classroom practices to community initiatives.
Effective literacy instruction uses a planned scope and sequence of skills that progress from easier to more difficult, with each concept building on previous learning (this is called scaffolding). The key components of this framework include:
Phonemic awareness: Teaching students to recognize and manipulate the sounds within words
Phonics: Explicitly connecting letters and sounds in a systematic way
Vocabulary: Building word knowledge through both direct and indirect methods
Fluency: Providing frequent opportunities for oral reading practice
Comprehension: Teaching strategies for understanding connected text
When these components are taught together in a coherent approach, research indicates dramatic improvements in reading outcomes.
Professional development that equips teachers with evidence-based strategies is essential. When educators receive high-quality training in the science of reading and ongoing coaching support, their students show stronger reading outcomes.
But literacy development doesn't begin or end in the classroom. Family literacy initiatives that engage parents as partners crucially show positive results. Simple practices like reading aloud daily, making books accessible at home, and modeling reading habits can significantly impact children's literacy development.
Addressing the literacy crisis requires a comprehensive approach that spans homes, schools, and communities. It necessitates both educational reforms and broader societal changes that prioritize reading and learning.
We must move beyond seeing literacy as just a school issue and recognize it as a fundamental right and necessity that requires support across multiple contexts, which means addressing educational, societal, and policy factors simultaneously.
Actionable Steps
For educators:
Adopt structured literacy approaches
Use diagnostic assessments to identify specific reading difficulties
Incorporate multi-sensory techniques that engage multiple learning pathways
Pursue ongoing professional development in evidence-based reading instruction
For parents and caregivers:
Read aloud daily, even with older children
Make books accessible at home and create comfortable reading opportunities for children
Model positive reading habits
Communicate with teachers about your child's reading progress
For community members:
Volunteer at schools or libraries to support reading programs
Donate books to schools, little free libraries, and literacy organizations
Mentor struggling readers through community programs
Support funding for libraries and literacy initiatives
Resources
Here are some programs that offer various ways to get involved depending on one's interests, skills, and available time. Many accept both direct volunteer support and donations, allowing community members to contribute in the way that works best for them:
Reading Partners - A national nonprofit that mobilizes community volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring for students who struggle with reading. Volunteers work with the same student each week using a structured, evidence-based curriculum.
Reach Out and Read - A program where pediatricians provide books to children during well-child visits and encourage families to read together. Community members can donate books or funds, or volunteer to read in clinic waiting rooms.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library - A book gifting program that mails free books to children from birth until they begin school. Local communities can sponsor chapters to bring the program to their area.
Little Free Libraries - Community book exchanges where neighbors can take or leave books. Individuals can build, stock, and maintain these small libraries in their neighborhoods.
America Reads - A federal work-study program that places college students as reading tutors in elementary schools. Community members can advocate for local colleges to participate and support these efforts.
Literacy Councils - Most states have literacy councils with local chapters that provide adult literacy tutoring. Volunteers receive training to work one-on-one with adults improving their reading skills.
826 National - The 826 Network’s local writing centers, educator resources, and research are transformative in communities across the country.
First Book - A nonprofit that provides new books and educational resources to children in need. Community members can organize book drives or fundraising events to support local distributions.
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) - America's largest nonprofit children's literacy organization, providing free books and literacy resources to children nationwide. Local chapters engage volunteers to help with book distributions and reading motivation events.
Public Library Reading Programs - Summer reading initiatives, story times, and reading clubs hosted by public libraries. Community members can volunteer as readers, help organize events, or donate supplies.
The literacy crisis facing America is serious, but I have to believe it’s not insurmountable. With concerted effort and evidence-based approaches, we can ensure that more children and adults develop the reading skills they need to think critically, create innovatively, and participate fully in society.
As someone who has worked both in classrooms and in publishing, I've seen the transformative power of literacy in individual lives. Each person who learns to read with proficiency gains not just a skill but access to worlds of knowledge, perspectives, and possibilities that would otherwise remain closed.
By understanding the complex factors contributing to the problem and by implementing proven solutions, we can move toward a future where literacy is truly accessible to all. This isn't just about educational achievement—it's about creating a society where everyone has the tools to think deeply, engage meaningfully, and contribute fully to our collective future.