Blog Me MAYbe: MAY I tell you about Suzanne Collins? How about some great causes?

Today's Blog Me MAYbe question is: MAY I tell you about someone else?

Now, ok, you all clearly know about Suzanne Collins.  BUT.  Did you know that she rarely signs books?

AND, did you know that she was really keen on getting books in the hands of kids?

Ok, maybe you knew that too.  But I'm sorry, you guys, I couldn't sit on this any longer.

THIS LIVES IN MY HOUSE NOW.

Ok, I'll explain.  Books of Wonder ran a book drive for three children's charities: Reading is Fundamental, LitWorld, and Children of Bellevue.  And, to get people excited about buying books for these awesome causes, Suzanne Collins donated twelve (duh) copies of The Hunger Games--signed copies.  For each book a person donated, they got an entry to win a signed copy.  And...well, I won a copy.  And here it is. 

So, Suzanne Collins, THANK YOU for being so incredibly generous and donating these beautiful prizes.  I feel so lucky to have won one, and doubly lucky to have gotten it for supporting these really awesome causes.  MAY I tell you about them?

Reading Is Fundamental

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is the largest children’s literacy nonprofit in the United States. We prepare and motivate children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most. We inspire children to be lifelong readers through the power of choice. RIF provides new, free books for children to choose from and make their own. The seeds of inspiration in these books have motivated children to follow their dreams and achieve their potential. Yes, it seems incredible for a book to launch a life, but it happens every day as hungry, inquisitive young minds reach out and grab hold of the new people, places, and ideas that books bring them.

Nearly two-thirds of low-income families in the U.S. own no books.

Planting seeds of inspiration in our nation’s most vulnerable children is what RIF and a network of more than 400,000 volunteers do. Whether in schools, homeless shelters, or community centers—wherever you find children—RIF volunteers spend countless hours distributing books, staging reading motivation activities, and promoting the importance of literacy in their communities.
--Reading Is Fundamental Mission Statement 

LitWorld

LitWorld Believes:
In the inviolable human rights of children;

In the transformative power of literacy to build strong foundations of health, security and economic potential;

In learners as teachers and teachers as learners;

In the importance of children's stories, ideas and opinions;

In the right of every child to a safe and resource-rich learning environment;

In education with a purpose to inspire lives and build peace and connection for humanity;

In the leadership abilities of young people and their vision to create change in the world;

We believe that all children have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world.
--LitWorld's Core Values and Principles


Children of Bellevue

•  In the clinic waiting room, trained community volunteers engage children of all ages in reading activities. The volunteers don’t simply read aloud; they model book-related interactions for parents who sit nearby and watch.
• A ROR parent educator makes in-depth contacts with parents,pointing out their child’s reaction to the books, talking about the importance of language and literacy in the early years and giving advice about reading. The counseling sets the stage for the doctors’ intervention.
• Pediatricians give children a new book to take home at every check-up, from six months to five years. These books are carefully chosen based on developmental and cultural appropriateness. Children participating in the ROR program will start school with a library of at least 10 books in their homes.
•  Pediatricians give parents age appropriate advice about the importance of reading aloud during well-child visits. The most important thingparents can do to increase a child’s success in learning to read is to read to that child. Even parents who themselves cannot read can teach their child a love of books by looking at books with their child.
  --Children of Bellevue Reach Out and Read Program