Community Corner

VIDEO: Bestselling Author James Patterson Explains Summer Reading Partnership with Patch

Patch has teamed up with Patterson's ReadKiddoRead to bring the bestselling author's summer reading lists into hundreds of communities across the country.

What better way to act local and think global this summer than to get lost in a book a national bestelling author recommends on your very own community news, information and engagement site?

Patch and READKIDDOREAD.com, the website founded by number-one best-selling author James Patterson, today announced a partnership designed to encourage kids’ passion for reading and to support parents’ efforts to interest their kids in books – throughout the year, and especially during the summer months when school is out.

"Patch and James Patterson's/ReadKiddoRead’s Summer Reading List,” the first program in the partnership, launched this month on all 850+ Patch sites. Aimed at parents, teachers, librarians, and, of course, kids, the sites will feature a video message from Patterson that introduces Patch readers to the program, along with four age-specific reading lists chosen by Patterson as great summer reads. 

Here's a look at those lists:

Find out what's happening in Watertownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Additionally, kids and parents will be encouraged to share their own recommendations, their responses to the books, and their progress with the list on their hometown Patch site.

"We hope moms and dads will be inspired to take an even more active role in getting their kids into books and reading," Patterson said in announcing the partnership. "That’s what ReadKiddoRead is all about. I’m proud to be working with Patch to get more children reading good books. I’m really excited to be getting a conversation going this summer with such a lively and active network of families across the country."

Warren Webster, co-founder of Patch, said AOL's hyperlocal news, information and engagement is similarly excited to be teaming up with Patterson.

Find out what's happening in Watertownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"James Patterson’s passion for inspiring children to read made this partnership a perfect fit for Patch, given our commitment to supporting our communities - and by extension, the kids and families in those communities, ” said Webster. "We’re excited to work with READKIDDOREAD and hope that this initiative will foster a love of reading that will last well beyond this summer.”

And be sure to check out our 2012 Summer Reading Guide topic page, where you'll find news about reading lists, local authors, popular titles and other literary items throughout the summer season. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Watertown