I'm visiting Mrs. Nagy's fourth grade class at Edison Elementary School on Erie's east side. The class has another visitor.  A man they call Mr. Brian. He's a volunteer from Hooked on Books.  Every month during the school year, he brings the kids a brand new book. Today it's Charlotte's Web.  He describes the book to the children and they all take turns reading.

The book is for the young people to keep. It is hoped they continue to read it at home. That's the goal of Dean Baldwin, who founded Hooked on Books in 1990.

"Take it home and read it and build a library. It's wonderful,” says Dean. “If a child is there at Edison from Pre-K to 5th grade, by the time that child leaves 5th grade, he or she will have a library of 50-60 books."

Dean was an instructor at Penn State Behrend in 1990. He saw that some of his college students were struggling with reading comprehension and he wanted to know why.

"I traced it back to kids not reading at home or not being read to at home. So I gathered a few people and we started Books for Kids. Later it became Hooked on Books for Kids,” says Dean.

Edison School receives special attention because of the high poverty rate in the neighborhood. However, any school, church, or organization that works with underprivileged kids can apply for books. They can receive up to 400 brand new books a year.

"We want kids to know that they're valued and valued enough that somebody wants to give them a brand new book to keep forever,” says Dean.

Parents of underprivileged kids can also apply to receive three books a year for each of their children from birth to age 18. Parents are encouraged to read those books to their children. Hooked on Books has given out over 500,000 books since Dean founded the organization 35 years ago.

I ask Mrs. Nagy if Hooked on Books really works. She has a better idea on how I could get the answer. She points to her students.

"Can we ask them?” she says. Mrs. Nagy then addresses the class. “4th Grade. I just want you to give me a yes or a no. When Mr. Brian is in our classroom, does it get you more excited about reading?”

There’s one clear answer. “Yes!!!”

Hooked on Books relies on donations to purchase the new books. Their biggest fundraiser of the year is on April 1. It's the annual Spelling Bee where participants dress up in costume, have fun, and try to spell some interesting words. The event will be held at the Shrine Club on West 38th Street.  Information on that event or information about receiving books can be found on the organization's website.