According to the National Institute for Literacy, success in school—and in life—starts with literacy. When young people become good readers in the early grades, they are more likely to become better learners throughout their school years and beyond. While parental involvement is critical, it ultimately comes down to inspiring individuals not only to read books, but also to find their own passion about reading in all forms.

The Library and the Advertising Council recently unveiled a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) developed to inspire young people to "explore new worlds" through reading and to promote literacy in all types of learning, including books, periodicals and cartoons, through a new Web site.

The new PSAs, created pro bono by The Geppetto Group, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and the Brigham Young University (BYU) Ad Lab, are based on fiction classics "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and the "Chronicles of Narnia," as well as stories of King Arthur and the Round Table. The PSAs aim to inspire children in grades four to six to get more enjoyment out of reading and thereby inspire them to become lifelong learners.

The Web site also features a variety of resources for kids and their parents and teachers to promote and encourage reading, including personal letters written by young readers to authors who have affected their lives in some way. These letters are the winning entries in the 2007 Letters and Literature contest sponsored by the Library's Center for the Book and Target Stores.