Mission
In 2024, approximately 40% of fourth-grade students performed below a basic reading level—the highest percentage in more than two decades. Among eighth graders, about one-third failed to meet the basic reading benchmark, marking the worst performance ever recorded. And perhaps the most heartbreaking statistic of all: only 34.6% of children aged 8–18 said they enjoy reading in their free time, the lowest level since this metric has been tracked.
These numbers may be alarming, but they’re not exactly surprising. When was the last time you saw a little kid pull out a book at a restaurant? The meteoric rise of screen-based entertainment has pushed books aside, rewiring young minds to crave instant gratification and pummeling their attention spans. And yes—only making the problem worse!
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But this crisis is about far more than just kids missing out on good stories. It’s about tens of millions of children missing out on critical thinking development, becoming empathetic, a strong academic foundation, and gaining the tools to navigate the world around them. When reading falls away, nearly every other subject suffers too.
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The solution isn’t simply to get kids reading again. It’s to get them wanting to read again. At DigDum Books, we believe that starts with reshaping the kinds of books reluctant readers are handed. We’re focused on creating funny, fast-paced stories with bold characters and strong visuals—all designed with one mission: get kids to turn the page. That’s what we’re here to do.
