Five minutes with Taye Diggs on why children's books at the doctor's office matter
The actor and children’s book author had a quick in-person sit-down with Health Nation News to talk about why access to children’s books at the doctor’s office is essential. Diggs was honored at a recent Reach Out & Read benefit event in New York.
The actor and children’s book author Taye Diggs had a quick in-person sit-down with Health Nation News’s contributor Botumroath “Bo” LeBun to talk about why access to children’s books at the doctor’s office is essential, not only for improving children’s literacy rates, but also for the social, emotional and mental health of kids. (See video and digital text below.)
Reach Out & Read is a national non-profit organization, that prepares America’s youngest children from birth to school age, to master literacy skills. Pediatricians prescribe books at each visit, and also provide parents with guidance on how reading together from birth supports healthy brain development and strengthens the bond between children and their caregivers.
This intervention program aims to give children a new book every time they go to their doctor’s office, local medical clinic or hospital visit. After a child’s doctor’s appointment is complete, children receive an age-appropriate new book that they can take home and keep forever.
Books are in English, bilingual (English and Spanish) and available in other languages (bilingual editions) that children speak at home. Many books feature culturally relevant book characters, visuals and art work that help children of color feel seen and represented. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to read these books together with their children, including pre-readers and early readers through school age readers, at home. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to make reading together part of their everyday routines, creating meaningful opportunities for connection.
Reach Out and Read of Greater New York’s Annual Benefit, “A Book for Every Child,” featured Diggs, actor and children’s book author, in New York on October 20, 2026. Diggs received the Literacy Leadership Award at the benefit event. Diggs and Macmillan Publishers are donating more than 500 books to support the organization’s efforts to bring diverse stories to families through pediatric care across Greater New York.
“Every child deserves to feel that there is a place for them in the stories they grow up with,” said Emily Marchese, Executive Director of Reach Out and Read of Greater New York. “Diverse books help make that possible. When clinicians share books that reflect the families they care for, they help make those stories part of everyday moments of connection," she said in a prepared statement.
More than 60 percent of children served by Reach Out & Read nationally are Black, Indigenous, or other people of color. In Greater New York, 88 percent of Reach Out & Read sites serve communities where a majority of residents are people of color. Families are more likely to read together when they have access to books that embrace their culture, language, and identity.
Taye Diggs had a quick sit down to talk about children and literacy at a Reach Out & Read event in New York on October 20, 2026. Video taken by Botumroath "Bo" LeBun for Health Nation News.
Taye Diggs had a quick sit down to talk about children and literacy at a Reach Out & Read event in New York on October 20, 2026. Video taken by Botumroath "Bo" LeBun for Health Nation News.
Taye Diggs, “I don’t believe it. I know it.”
Video interview transcript.
Q: Taye, thank you so much for sitting down with me for giving me your opinion on the celebration of literacy tonight.
A: Thank you for having me.
Q: Health Nation News. My question to you is what’s the impact on mental health of a child [when accessing] in early literary
A: Oh wow. That’s a great question. Whether it’s in terms of mental health or not, but even more so, I think it’s so important to introduce children to books and poems and songs and all of that. And I’m living proof. It helps develop the child in so many different ways. You know, there’s communication, storytelling, you know. Just the idea of [a child] listening after someone’s giving, responding, attention span, the importance of literally storytelling, relating to each other, communication all of it. All of it is so great. And, then at the end of the day, the two people [parent and child] that are exchanging energy that there is no other bond. And that bond is very important.
Q: Do you believe in your opinion, that early literacy, early reading, helps a child’s development in terms of mental development.
A: I don’t believe it. I know it.
Q: Can you give me an example of your personal relationship, whether it’s from your family or another example?
A: I just know from being around the subject matter. I know just that it helps. It helps and I can give you, I can name ways, but it helps in ways that we don’t even understand because its about connection and storytelling. If you have those two dynamics, anything can happen.
Q: What would be your greatest gift this year to the children?
A: A sense of adventure, and access.
Q: Thank you so much.
A: You’re welcome so much.
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