Third graders in Michigan have some of the lowest literacy rates in the nation. Less than half of third graders got a passing reading score on their M-Step test in the 2015–16 school year. In reaction to the literacy crisis, the state government passed a law that required required third grade students to reach a certain level or proficiency, or they would be held back.

The public libraries in Kent County, Michigan—Grand Rapid Public Library, Kent District Library, Cedar Springs Public Library, and Sparta Carnegie Township Library, responded by forming a team called Partners in Reading Success. The Literacy Center of West Michigan and Kent Intermediate School District also provided assistance. 

The primary goal of the team was to help kids establish a daily reading habit. The team wanted to challenge kids to 1000 days of reading. A daunting mission indeed. After several name discussions, we settled on “Mission: READ!”

I decided to use space as the theme—kids would receive an envelope containing a reading log and tracking poster. For each day they read, they could color in circles on their reading log. After each 100 days, they could pick up a sticker to add to the tracking poster, until they collected the whole solar system.