2023 Virginia Reads One Book Resources
Sponsored by the VBA Education Foundation and Banks Across Virginia

Internal Links Monica McDearmon

Thank you for sponsoring Virginia Reads One Book in your community! 

Program Overview & Timeline

During the Virginia Reads One Book (VAROB) program, the entire school community, including bus drivers, resource teachers, facilities staff, office personnel, students and their families, read the same book on the same schedule. Students participate in financial literacy activities that correlate with the state standards of learning and each chapter of the book. 

Program Timeline

  • Beginning December 9, 2022 – Schools will receive access to program resources.
  • By January 2, 2023 - School/bank partnerships will be secured and orders will be placed for books/materials.
  • January 17, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. – Zoom meeting for bank sponsors to go over timeline, next steps and resources for the 2023 program.
  • By first week of February 2023 - Schools receive their books*, posters, stickers and bookmarks.
  • On or around March 6, 2023 - VAROB begins, immediately following Read Across America Week. The program is designed to last about two weeks. 

*Some schools may receive their books earlier than others - book orders were placed in the order that they were received.

How Can Your Bank be Involved During the Program at the School?

Some ways that bankers have been involved in the past are:

  • Attending and helping at school kick-off ceremonies.
  • Helping to pass out books at kick-off ceremonies.
  • Provide promotional giveaways or bank logo items to students/staff as trivia question prizes.
  • Serving as guest readers throughout the program in classrooms or with small groups (virtually or in-person).
  • Presenting financial literacy lessons that correlate with the chapters of the book (virtually or in person).
  • Tie the program with youth savings programs/accounts that already exist at your bank (providing students with a bookmark voucher worth $X when they bring it in to open a savings account with their family).
  • Providing recordings of the chapters being read by members of the bank staff.

Templates & Resources for Bankers

Before the Program Begins:

During the Program:

Family engagement activities:

VAROB Press Kit

Social Media Information:

Be sure to tag @vabankers, @readtothem and use the hashtags #vabankers, and #VAROB2023 in your social media posts on Facebook and Instagram.
Link to the VBA’s VAROB page: https://www.vabankers.org/post/virginia-reads-one-book
Link to Read to Them’s VAROB page: https://readtothem.org/virginia/

Connect with the author J. Dillard by tagging @IamJDillard on Instagram and Twitter. 

Connect with the publisher, Kokila by tagging @KokilaBooks on Instagram and Twitter.

Social media post templates

2023 VAROB Poster

2023 Bank Sponsor posters/digital display images

Media alert and press release templates:

Chapter Reading Recordings

You can view the chapter reading recordings here! This link has been shared with all schools participating in the 2023 program.

What Resources Do the Schools Receive?

When you sponsor a school for VAROB, they will receive a wealth of resources to ensure the success of the program. You can find links to the 2023 resources below.

Click here to access the portal.
Username: VBA
Password: varob23!

Resources include:

  • Implementation information
  • Reading schedule
  • Trivia and discussion questions
  • Digital resources, including Kahoot and Flipgrid activities
  • Activities by chapter
  • Specific financial literacy activities
  • Social media graphics and a same press release
  • Family fun pack
  • …and more!

Read to Them Contact Information

Anne Curry
Read to Them Regional Outreach Manager
anne.curry@readtothem.org