News

Reese Witherspoon’s new mission: How she plans to inspire young readers

Reese Witherspoon’s new mission: How she plans to inspire young readers

Reese Witherspoon attends the WSJ. Magazine Innovators Awards at the Museum of Modern Art on Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Photo: Associated Press


NEW YORK (AP) — Oscar-winning actor and book club impresario Reese Witherspoon is teaming up with her publisher, Hachette Book Group, on a literacy campaign.
Starting this fall, new audio books from Nathan Harris, Patricia Cornwell and other Hachette fiction authors will include a message from Witherspoon urging parents to read to their children at least 10 minutes a day, visit libraries and bookstores and perhaps even form a book club. Witherspoon’s own club has helped boost sales for such choices as R.F. Kuang’s “Yellowface,” Ann Patchett’s “Tom Lake” and Emily Henry’s ” Great Big Beautiful Life.”
The initiative with Witherspoon is part of Hachette’s “Raising Readers” campaign.
“Through community and collaboration, we hope to ignite children’s imaginations and remind them of the endless joy and possibility that reading for fun can bring,” Witherspoon said in a statement released Tuesday.
Witherspoon’s message also will be included in a novel she has out in October, “Gone Before Goodbye,” a thriller she wrote with Harlen Coben.
Hachette CEO David Shelley said in a statement that “We’re up against a lot of competition for young readers’ attention. Having a megastar like Reese to help fly the flag for books is a tremendous asset.”

Recent Headlines

14 hours ago in Entertainment

Selena Gomez marries Benny Blanco: ‘My wife in real life’

Selena Gomez has married music producer and songwriter Benny Blanco, announcing the news in an Instagram post showing the couple kissing and embracing on a lawn.

14 hours ago in Entertainment

‘One Battle After Another’ opens with $22.4 million

"One Battle After Another," Paul Thomas Anderson's widely acclaimed American epic of rebellion and resistance, opened with $22.4 million in ticket sales from North American theaters over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

14 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending

Latin superstar Bad Bunny will headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show

Bad Bunny will bring his Latin trap and reggaeton swagger to the NFL's biggest stage next year: The Grammy winner will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show in Northern California.

3 days ago in Entertainment

Mikey Madison will play a Facebook whistleblower in Aaron Sorkin’s ‘Social Network’ follow-up

Aaron Sorkin is diving back into the world of Facebook with a "Social Network" follow-up featuring Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg and a newly minted Oscar winner as a whistleblower.

4 days ago in Entertainment

Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ brings revolution to the (very) big screen

Paul Thomas Anderson spent about 20 years writing "One Battle After Another." After two decades, it's never felt more relevant.