Usha Vance Offers American Parents A Fix As Kids Drift From Books

Second Lady Usha Vance just launched a new podcast aimed at children’s literacy, her office announced Monday.

The project, which is called “Storytime with the Second Lady,” will include Vance and special guests reading “good books out loud” and discussing why they love to read. 

“We will have someone come in—a ‘special reader,’ we’re calling them—read a fun book, have a very short little conversation, and then invite children to pick up books on their own,” the announcement said. 

“It’s sort of just a little advertisement for reading,” Vance said during an appearance on NBC News. When asked why this initiative was so important, the second lady mentioned the decline of literacy rates, calling the trend “worrisome.”

The first three episodes are already posted, featuring the books “Peter Rabbit” by Beatrix Potter, Disney’s “Cars” featuring Danica Patrick, and “Playground Lessons” written and read by Brent Poppen.

Vance has made children’s literacy a focus of her office. At the beginning of March, she celebrated National Reading Month by reading to young patients at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., as The Daily Wire previously reported.

“Childhood literacy is something that’s very important to me, both as a parent and as someone who grew up reading avidly,” Vance said at the time. “In particular, when children are spending a lot of time in the hospital it’s important that they have access to books, both as entertainment and to ensure they develop the essential literacy skills they will need for the rest of their lives. It’s an honor to spend time with these children and to encourage them to keep reading after they complete their stay here at the hospital.”

Earlier this year, the Vance family announced the happy news that they were expecting their fourth child together. The vice president, 41, and his wife, 40, have been married since 2014. 

With the birth of their new son expected in July, the couple will have joined a small club of presidents and vice presidents to have had a child while in office.

Episodes of “Storytime with the Second Lady” are available on YouTube and Spotify.