October 1, 2007
For Immediate Release

Post-it® Teams Up With Brady Brady to Inspire Kids to Read

National Stick With-it Literacy Tour launched today to help curb illiteracy

Toronto, ON – Did you know that on average, boys are 1.5 years behind girls when it comes to reading levels? Or that boys now fall well behind girls in reading and writing at the primary and junior levels? To help fight falling childhood literacy rates, especially among boys, 3M Canada and the creators of the popular Brady Brady books have teamed up to host a national literacy tour to encourage kids to make reading a priority.

Brady Brady co-creator and illustrator, Chuck Temple, will visit schools and community centres in 10 cities nationwide starting in Toronto today. Not only will Temple perform entertaining and interactive presentations, but, during the tour, 3M will distribute over 25,000 Brady Brady books to Canadian children (at 80 venues in 7 provinces).

“Research proves that children who read have significantly brighter futures than those who don’t,” said Dr. Laura Shoemaker, research coordinator, Waterloo Catholic District School Board. “There is a clear need to generate an interest in reading at a young age and the Brady Brady series does just that.”

Brady Brady was conceived in the early 1990s by author Mary Shaw, who at the time was unable to find engaging reading material for her young son, Brady. Since the inaugural book, 12 more have been added to the series. All books focus on sports (primarily hockey, also baseball and football) and target male and female readers, ages four to eight. The books are recognized by school boards across Canada as a tool to help motivate young male readers - an at-risk group.

“Hockey and Canada are synonymous, especially among young boys, so using sports as a carrot to encourage more kids to read is a no-brainer,” said Temple, co-creator and illustrator of Brady Brady. “We want kids to make reading a fun goal and by taking this message directly to them in an interactive way, we hope to motivate more young children to stick with literacy.”

With over 50 years of giving, 3M is committed to making a positive contribution in the communities it operates in and to Canadian society.

“Literacy is a proven gateway to increased learning and opportunity among young people,” said Sue Romyn, community relations manager, 3M Canada. “The Stick With-it Literacy Tour is a natural extension of our commitment to education and the development of young people to improve Canada’s future competitiveness.”

For a complete list of tour stops and dates, parent and educators are encouraged to visit www.bradybrady.com.

Contact 3M Canada PR Department.

3M is a trademark of 3M. Used under license in Canada.