Penguin Random House | New York, 11/27/2019

Penguin Random House Participates In SOYA Pilot Program

Special Olympics Young Athletes (SOYA) is a sport and play program for children in the U.S. between the ages of 2 and 7, with or without intellectual disabilities. Through play, the program helps kids develop important skills for their (psychosocial) development. It has found a strong partner in Penguin Random House. The publishing group is donating 1,000 children's books.

Penguin Random House is participating in the Special Olympics Young Athletes (SOYA)  pilot program through a donation of 1,000 books. In partnership with the Special Olympics and the American Library Association, the largest book publishing group in the United States is contributing 500 copies each of the two children's books "We're All Wonders" by R. J. Palacio and Dr. Seuss' "The Sneetches.“ The titles will contribute to efforts to bring inclusive learning and play to communities across the country through local libraries. To continue this engagement at home, participating libraries will have Young Athletes backpacks available for checkout, with physical activities resources and children’s books on differences and inclusion, including those donated by Penguin Random House.

Special Olympics Young Athletes is a sport and play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities, ages 2 to 7 years old. In the program, kids learn basic sports such as running, throwing, and football. Families, teachers and caregivers are also involved. The idea is to teach children to enjoy sports and exercise, as well as to share, be team players, and follow instructions – skills that will help the kids to improve interactions in their families, at school, and in their communities. Ideally, this will help lay the foundation for each young participant to embrace sports and social activities throughout their lives.