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"How Dr. Suess Brought Me to Raising A Reader MA" by Paul Buta

When I was very young, I was given a well-used copy of the classic Dr. Suess book And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. It rapidly became my favorite. I asked my parents to read it to me again and again. I flipped the pages myself even before I could read the words, intrigued by Marco’s vivid description of the imagined zebras and elephants pulling politicians, kings and queens, foreign dignitaries, even marching bands through his sleepy neighborhood. “Now this is a story that can’t be beat. And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street!”

Although I would frequently visit the library and get other books, Mulberry Street was a touchstone for me for understanding how to turn boring into exciting. I considered it the best of books. As for my parents, although they may have tired of the book, they always enjoyed our engagement with it.

I’ve subsequently had the privilege of seeing the other side in reading to our daughter.  From But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton to Nancy Drew in The Secret of the Old Clock by “Carolyn Keene” – they all became unique opportunities for creative interaction.

A friend introduced me to Raising A Reader MA a few years ago. I heard that 60% of low-income families do not have a single children’s book in their home, and I was surprised and disappointed. Something so fundamental was missing from the lives of these kids. Further, I learned that children who can’t read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma. This problem threatens the well-being of those children as well as our entire economy.  Raising A Reader delivers is simple but effective solution: loan books to young kids, and help their parents read with them regularly. When the opportunity arose to join the Board of Directors earlier this year, I was excited to help.

Just as Marco on Mulberry Street starts with nothing but a simple horse and wagon, Raising A Reader starts with a simple model. The thrill comes when childrens’ imagination takes it from there.

*****

 

Raising A Reader MA Board Member Paul Buta has worked for over 30 years at the intersection of marketing and technology, and is currently president of Choiceplex, using big data to marketing challenges while maintaining consumer privacy. Previously, he was co-founder and COO of Optas, a marketing services company focused on improving healthcare through better patient relationships. He has held management positions at Dun & Bradstreet, AC Nielsen and IMS Health. Paul has an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and lives with his wife and daughter in Boston.