Stressing the importance of child literacy, Hancock, along with Lt. Governor Joe Garcia, said the program will give away 70,000 books - one for every 4-year-old in the state.

"We know that something as simple as putting a book in the hands of a child can really be the determining factor in starting them off, making sure that when they arrive at kindergarten they're arriving ready to learn - ready to learn to read," Garcia said.

The books will be available in doctors' offices and libraries across the state, courtesy of "Reach Out and Read Colorado."

"One Book 4 Colorado" is based on a reading program entering its fourth year in Denver called "Preschool One Book, One Denver."

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