A successful literacy programme which has been breaking the cycle of 'booklessness' among low-decile primary school children has now turned its sights to kindergarten children as well.

The Duffy Books in Homes Ready 4 Reading Early Childhood Programme sees books put into the homes of children from 43 of the AKA's low-decile kindergartens. 

The launch of the initiative, announced on 29 June 2007 at Omana Kindergarten in South Auckland and attended by the Prime Minister, signaled Duffy Books in Homes' continued quest to reverse some of New Zealand's damning literacy statistics.

Nearly half the workforce in New Zealand (46%) cannot read well enough to work effectively in a modern economy. As the availability of low-skilled jobs diminishes, the high concentration of adults with poor literacy skills will become increasingly vulnerable. In addition one in four New Zealanders are functioning below the level of competence required to meet the demands of everyday life.

Duffy Books in Homes Ready 4 Reading Early Childhood Programme is the brainchild of well-known author Alan Duff who realised that failures in adult life often stem from childhoods spent in bookless homes. Since it was established in 1995, Duffy Books in Homes Ready 4 Reading Early Childhood Programme has distributed over four million books to more than 95,000 students from 495 low-decile schools throughout the country.

Results to date have shown a 35% increase in reading skills by children on the programme in one year. In addition schools on the Duffy Books in Homes Ready 4 Reading Early Childhood Programme (Duffy Schools) have experienced less truancy and greater involvement in school life by parents and the community.

Duffy Books in Homes Ready 4 Reading Early Childhood Programme involves book offers at the beginning of terms two and four where the child takes home two books at each offer.