The Birthday Party Pledge

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The Birthday Party Pledge

August 1, 2011 by elliottzetta

Do you have kids in your life? Would you be willing, for one year, to give ONLY multicultural books as birthday presents? Last week I wrote a guest post for my favorite literacy org, Behind the Book. If you’re looking for a way to encourage reading in children, I hope you’ll consider making a donation to this wonderful program that brings authors into urban schools AND provides each child with a signed book. In my post I consider “The Real Value of Free Books,” noting that books in the home make a huge impact on a child’s academic success, yet the habit of book-buying isn’t always present in low-income areas. We need to find ways to develop that habit, and the BPP is one idea. Do you have any others? Does giving away books diminish their actual value, or can a free book still be a prized possession?

Posted in activism, book culture, children's literature, education, equity, multicultural literature | 5 Comments

5 Responses

on August 1, 2011 at 1:06 pm | Reply rhapsodyinbooks

For years I have only and still do given my nieces multicultural books, but without parental support, they go right into the zone of Presents Never Seen Again. I’m thinking that READING the books to them needs to be part of the present! (although last time I was home and asked for a book to read to them, it was not able to be located….)
on August 1, 2011 at 1:31 pm | Reply elliottzetta

It’s really hard to regulate what goes on in the privacy of people’s homes…I am not sure that the mere presence of books in the home makes a difference–not if they’re strewn across the floor or otherwise disused. You’re right–it’s the respect for and regular use of books that seems to matter most. I didn’t have many books in my home but we saw our mother reading constantly and we went to the library every week. It’s about practice, not just property…I guess mentoring a child might be the answer.
on August 3, 2011 at 4:06 pm | Reply amymckie

No kids in my life but I’m definitely behind this! My little sister is due in about a month and my new (first!) niece or nephew will be receiving lots of multicultural books from me! I think Jill makes a great point about parents really needing to support the gifts as well and actually read to the child, and read these books.
- on August 4, 2011 at 1:29 pm | Reply elliottzetta
  
  Hey, Amy–let me know where you’re able to find multicultural books in Toronto. I’d love to know what kind of selection can be found at Book City or Chapters; A Different Booklist doesn’t carry my books, but I hear other indies stock titles by Lee & Low Books. And congrats on the new niece/nephew!
  - on August 10, 2011 at 2:43 am amymckie
    
    I’m interested to see as well, and a little scared that there won’t be much. I just found A Different Booklist the other day and was so happy to see it. Disappointing that they don’t carry your book. I’ll have to make a point to ask about it next time I’m in 😀