Townsend Press is best known as a publisher of reading and vocabulary skills books. In addition to continuing revision of those books, TP has started the Townsend Library, a collection of high-interest paperbacks sold at the nonprofit price of just $1 each. Today the library consists of 90 titles, including the amazing Bluford Series and its almost five million books sold. Praised by parents, principals, educational journals, and school districts across the US, the Bluford Series make kids want to read. 

Why publish nonprofit paperbacks? After 30 years of teaching reading and writing skills, I am convinced that the act of reading itself is the surest way students can develop their language skills—and achieve academic and career success. The challenge, however, is that many students don’t read enough.

Many of my students come to a college skills class without having read a single book from cover to cover in their lives. While a developmental reading class does give them a lot of practice, the reality is that they need to do even more reading—preferably not just a skills textbook, but the kind of everyday books that people read for pleasure. Look at what the research tells us, much of it summarized in Stephen Krashen’s excellent The Power of Reading: Insights from the Research: “Those who do not develop the regular reading habit…will have a very difficult time reading and writing at a level high enough to deal with the demands of today’s world.”

The best way to encourage more reading is to provide compelling human stories that will appeal to readers of all ages. That is what the affordable Townsend Library tries to do. Research shows that the more access students have to appealing paperback books, the more they read. I would urge instructors to ask their students to read one or more paperbacks in addition to other course work. Doing so may enable students to discover the priceless experience of reading for pleasure. Click here to learn about one current project that TP is sponsoring to encourage students to help students discover fun in reading.

Here in the fall of 2009, TP has just published the Fourth Editions of our best-selling vocabulary books, Building Vocabulary Skills, Improving Vocabulary Skills, and Advancing Vocabulary Skills. These books now include illustrations and a full color design, but they are still priced under $10 net.

Earlier this year, TP was proud to announce the publication of The King School Series.  Just as the Bluford Series has captured the imaginations of inner-city middle and high school students across the country, The King School Series can be expected to do the same for beginning readers. 

Featuring a recurring cast of ethnically diverse children, the Series will spark in new readers a passion for reading. Once they experience the joy of reading about this cast of engaging characters, they will clamor for more.

Opening doors to the joys of reading and developing strong and skilled readers of all ages has always been at the heart of TP’s mission.   The publication of The King School Series is one more step in realizing that mission. 

Thank you for your time! I encourage you to explore our website, including the many free offers for educators and students. And click here if you wish to see summarized my strong beliefs about students and reading.

John Langan