"PRESCRIBE ONE BOOK" PROJECT

This project was created from the observation of a rural community in Ceará-Brazil, in which the majority of parents do not know how to read or have difficulty reading. This project aims to fill this deficiency, in view of the importance of reading early in life. The project has existed since December 2015, in a rural community in the city of Cariré-CE, Brazil. During monthly visits to child care at the family health center, children up to 2 years are required to attend workshops of stories with teachers assigned by the community school. At the same time, parents are invited to listen to lectures and answer a questionnaire about the importance of reading habit or storytelling for their children. The project helps 29 children and their parents receive, during consultations, a children‘s book as a way to encourage reading in childhood. As long as most parents cannot read, they are suggested to browse books for their children and create a story. Children who read more do better in school. This will improve their chances of having health and life quality. Besides recognizing the importance of reading, parents have trouble reading stories, not just because they have not attended school, but mostly because their parents did not have this habit too. Breaking this vicious circle is presented as a challenge for the family health team.