Regular readers of this blog know how much I love books. I’ve co-chaired the Book Fair at our kids’ school for several years, taught Junior Great Books (another program I strongly support) and, for a brief time, considered starting another blog devoted to books. I love books. I encourage my kids (and others’) to read.
I also promote philanthropy. Each year I believe more strongly that we all need to challenge ourselves to find ways to be more generous and giving.
Wouldn’t it be great to somehow combine reading and giving? Hmm…
Then I heard about an initiative launched by The Pearson Foundation and Penguin Young Readers Group called We Give Books, and I was excited to learn more.
What a wonderful idea! Read a book. Give a book.
So last week, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, when the Pearson Foundation gathered together a group of bloggers, authors* and others to announce the launch of the site, We Give Books, I was happy to attend.
*Including Pulitzer Prize winning author, Dave Barry!
How does it work?
Here’s the gist: We Give Books encourages parents or caregivers to read with their kids and then donate a book to a charity selected by the reader. Read a book, give a book. For every story you read on the site with (or without!) your child, they donate a book! The reader’s only obligation (if you even want to call it that) is to read the online book. Pearson/Penguin then donates the book directly to the charity you and your child selected.
These are some of the folks behind this initiative.
How easy is this?
1) Choose the charity
2) Read a book
3) Click to donate
For every book read on the site, the Pearson Foundation will donate a book to a worthy charity (selected by the reader(s)) of the book(s) from among those listed on the site).
Just give it a try. The site is very easy to navigate. Your youngest kids can participate in turning the pages of the book. In fact, I recommend that you get your kids involved from the start. Tell them a little about the charities, let them choose which one they like most, then let them pick the first book. I bet you’ll read more than a few (and then donate more than a few).
Mark Nieker, President of the Pearson Foundation, believes “We Give Books gives parents an opportunity to read with their children, and its innovation is that it surrounds reading with those important conversations that can start a young person on a life of giving.”
You can still have that special, quality time with your child in your lap, reading a story but now it’s interactive and helps other kids! This site puts an interesting twist on story time in our hi-tech world.
The only thing that I believe could make this even better and more current? If they had an iPad app for it.
I’ll bet it’s just a matter of time.
Visit We Give Books. And let me know what you think.
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Note: I wrote this review as part of a campaign by Mom Central on behalf of We Give Books and received coffee and a gift certificate. But I would have told you about it anyway, because it’s right in our sweet spot and it’s just that good.
