Each year first and fourth graders in Arizona receive a free book of their own through the Governor’s Book Program. The public/private partnership was established in 2003 and nearly one million books have been distributed to date. Private sponsorship funds the entire cost of the program.

The books given away for the 2008-09 school year included Big Moon Tortilla by Joy Cowley for first graders and Down the Colorado byDeborah Kogan Ray for fourth graders.