Ivana Sumbundu, founder of Vana Verse, is dedicated to connecting local authors with local readers in Southwest Virginia.

Literacy rates are dropping across the U.S., affecting Americans of all ages.

Edmund White, a pioneer of contemporary gay literature, died this week at age 85.

The Library of Virginia brought its mobile programming van, LVA On the Go, to the Bedford Public Library System’s Forest Library, 15583 Forest Road, Forest, Virginia, on Wednesday, April 9, from 12 to 4 p.m.

Spring is in the air, and Bedford Central Library is hosting a variety of exciting events for the community!

Six elementary schools in Lynchburg are diving into a Read-A-Thon that started on February 26 and runs through March 7, aligning with Read Across America Week.

Elementary schoolers at Margaret Beeks Elementary School in Blacksburg got to participate in the “Beeks Book Garden” on Monday!

A new bookstore is coming to Roanoke, and its goal is to help people with disabilities find employment.

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has expressed interest in the Ohio U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Kamala Harris devoted much of her final full day on the campaign trail to reaching Latino voters in Pennsylvania, a swing state that Democrats consider part of their “blue wall” in the Electoral College.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump closed out this year’s presidential race with a fierce battle for Pennsylvania on Monday, making their final pitch to voters across a state that could prove decisive in the campaign for the White House.

Donald Trump is planning to cast his vote on Election Day despite having previously said he was going to vote early.

In Reading, Pennsylvania, about two-thirds of the city’s 95,000 residents are Latino.

The academy is meant to give parents the resources and tips to help their child's reading journey outside the classroom.

One elementary school librarian is going above and beyond to make reading fun and unique for everyone by creating a story walk.

Taylor Swift got her singing career started by performing the national anthem at sporting events as a young child and teenager.

A crane operator has played down tributes paid to him after he lifted a man to safety from a burning high-rise building in England.

Sheathing the 29 posts that circle the community pond with their knitted and crocheted creations, a group of women in a village west of London has recreated the cast of characters set to attend the coronation of King Charles III.

Carilion Children's celebrated National Literacy Month by handing out free books to patients

This week is dedicated to celebrating banned books and a Roanoke bookstore is joining in.

One Lynchburg family is writing the next chapter of their book-selling business by transforming an old warehouse into a new store.

Prince William says he will support and respect whatever decision the people make as Caribbean nations debate their relationship with the British crown.

Bedtime stories are a fond memory many of us have from our childhood, and on the same note, it’s a memory many of us want to give our children, as well.

In recent years, an international team of linguists partnered with Merriam-Webster to analyze a decade’s worth of words.

Britain's Prince William has revealed some of his Christmas favorites in response to questions from children receiving cancer treatment at a London hospital.

Companies with at least 100 workers will be required to give employees paid time off to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and paid sick leave if they have side effects from the shots.

U.S. government advisers will debate Friday if there’s enough proof that a booster dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective.

I’m not always the best “get on the floor and play” kind of mom, but any time one of my kids wants to bring me a book, I’ll drop what I’m doing in favor of some cuddles and reading time.

For NBA players, the scenario this season is simple: Get vaccinated or get tested, and often.

COVID-19 deaths and cases in the U.S. have climbed to levels not seen seen since last winter, wiping out months of progress and potentially bolstering President Joe Biden’s argument for sweeping new vaccination requirements.

The Dilly Dally wants to encourage kids to read

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he's “anxious” about the rise in the U.K. of the coronavirus variant first identified in India.

Who doesn’t love “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” (And the polar bear version. And the panda edition!) Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle definitely have that formula down to a science. And well, the classics are the classics for a reason, and most parents can probably agree there will be room for those books on any shelf.

Roanoke City Public Libraries believes the magic is helping kids get through tough times. From politics and racial injustice to this pandemic and how much life has changed, there’s a lot of things kids are exposed to. Here is Roanoke City Public Libraries’ recommendation for children’s books for addressing topics like personal obstacles, death, stress, anxiety, friendships and more. For parents looking for a little more support, here are parenting books to help children and teens through stress and anxiety. Roanoke City Public Libraries are not open but are offering curbside services.

A Libyan man who stabbed three friends to death as they sat in an English city park on a summer evening has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Judge Nigel Sweeney said on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 that Khairi Saadallah should be given a rare whole-life prison term for the ruthless and brutal attack. (Facebook via AP)LONDON – A Libyan man who stabbed three friends to death as they sat in an English city park on a summer evening was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole. Judge Nigel Sweeney said Khairi Saadallah should be given a rare whole-life prison term for the “ruthless and brutal” attack. Saadallah, who had convictions for offenses including theft and assault, had been released from prison just two weeks before his deadly attack.

(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)GENEVA – Female soccer players should soon get their maternity rights protected under new employment rules announced Thursday by FIFA. “The idea is to protect female players before, during and after childbirth,” FIFA chief legal officer Emilio Garcia said on a conference call. The rules, created with help from world players' union FIFPro, are expected to be approved by the FIFA Council next month and would take effect on Jan. 1. Although FIFA’s judicial bodies have not been presented with contract disputes over maternity rights, Garcia targeted getting ahead of potential problems in the fast-growing women’s game. The drafted rules aim to “protect contractual stability, achieve greater transparency and make sure that coaches also get paid on time,” FIFA said.

LONDON – A 26-year-old Libyan man pleaded guilty to murder Wednesday for stabbing three friends to death as they sat in an English city park. Khairi Saadallah admitted to three counts of murder and three of attempted murder for the June 20 attack in Reading, 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of London. James Furlong, 36, David Wails, 49, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, were enjoying a warm Saturday evening in the city's Forbury Gardens park when they were stabbed. Each died from a single stab wound. The judge set a sentencing hearing for the week of Dec. 7.

Tottenham Hotspur's Alex Morgan gestures to her teammates during the English Women's Super League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Reading at the Hive stadium in London Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Morgan came on as a 69th minute substitute, the game ended in a 1-1 draw. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)LONDON – Supported by her baby daughter in the stands, American superstar Alex Morgan made her debut in English soccer on Saturday. Morgan came on as a substitute in the 69th minute for Tottenham in a 1-1 draw against Reading in the Women’s Super League. She didn't manage to score in her first match in around 15 months, having given birth to Charlie in May.

Deeply impacted by recent events, one Florida native has made it her mission to spread messages of love, diversity and inclusion through books.

Access to digital books is so simple, but there’s something unique about physically holding a book when you’re reading, isn’t there?

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In Tucson, Arizona, voters elected Regina Romero, the daughter of farmworkers, as the first Latina mayor in the city's history. Political newcomer Frank Whitfield, a former CEO of Lorain County Urban League, was elected the first black mayor of Elyria, Ohio. Sylvester Turner, Houston's second black mayor, won the plurality of votes and appeared to be heading into a runoff against Tony Buzbee, a candidate who has raised money for Republican Donald Trump. Barreto said the often overlook local races were important because they set up a "bench" for future candidates seeking higher offices. The gains nationwide came a month after voters in Montgomery, Alabama, elected Steven Reed as the city's first black mayor.

ROANOKE, Va.- - Some students in Franklin County will go home with new books this week. The Cummins Leadership Foundation donated 1,000 books to all 12 elementary schools in the county. Boones Mill Elementary received more than 60 books for students to choose from. The list of schools receiving books are: Boones Mill Elementary, Burnt ChimneyElementary, Callaway Elementary, Dudley Elementary, Glade Hill Elementary,Ferrum Elementary, Henry Elementary, Lee. M. Waid Elementary, Rocky MountElementary, Snow Creek Elementary, Sontag Elementary, and Windy GapElementary.

Five nights a week, the girls, who are two of five siblings, read to whomever would like to listen on Facebook Live. We thought it may be beneficial for children who dont get this luxury, a post on the girls Facebook page reads. When they presented their mom with the idea to read on Facebook Live, even though she doesnt want them to be on social media, she agreed it would be a great, positive way to help light the world. The girls Facebook page Zaria X Hailey has quickly grown to more than 10,000 followers. For parents who don't want their kids on Facebook or Instagram, the girls also post their stories on their YouTube page.

The annual World War II Weekend in Reading, Pennsylvania, sees thousands of people descend on the city to check out the explosive event hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum. "It's a lot of work, it's hard work prepping for it, it's hard work getting all the equipment, it's hard work and we're on our feet all day long, but it's a good show," Hobson told InsideEdition.com. "We're here, really, to remember, honor, and serve our veterans in our own way," Maj. Eric Junger said. For more on the country's biggest WWII reenactment, check out the video above. RELATED STORIESWorld War II Vet Gets 50,000 Cards for BirthdayWWII Veteran Receives High School Diploma After Dropping Out to Join the War EffortDid the Mafia Help the Allies Invade Sicily at the Height of World War II?

The value of reading cannot be overstated. No matter how old or young your children are, have you read with them today?

RICHMOND (WSLS 10) - The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) released its statewide, division-level and school-level pass rates on Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments taken last school year. 80-percent of students achieved proficient or advanced scores in reading, and the same percentage passed tests in mathematics, compared with 79 percent in both subjects in 2014-2015. Eighty-three percent passed grade-level or end-of-course SOL tests in science, compared with 82 percent previously. Of Virginia's 1,822 public schools, 915 improved in mathematics, 904 in reading and 939 in science. VDOE expects to convert all mathematics and reading SOL tests in grades 3-8 to the computer adaptive format by fall 2017.