Helping the very young to read

« Even if they only do it one time, even if they are so young they probably don’t remember a think about it, each child who takes part in our programme begins to understand somewhere deep down how they are part of wider humanity. » The words of president Pascal Bouchard sum up the philosophy behind Lire à Voix Haute Normandie. The association’s recipe is simple : one adult, one child, one cushion and just a smidgen of time. Set up in 1998, Lire à Voix Haute Normandie is inspired by the principles of another organisation called ACCESS (Cultural Action against Exclusion and Segregation). Like ACCESS, the association aims to introduce reading to children between the ages of zero and three, and to do so makes use of existing regional and national networks of libraries and media-centres. For several years Lire à Voix Haute Normandie shared a truck with ACCESS, using it every second month for its Livres en Balade (Strolling books) programme in Normandy. Since 2003 the association has had its own truck.