Books To Dreams Receives Well Deserved Attention

My own favorite literacy program Books To Dreams was profiled recently as part of the Everyday Heroes segment on Connecticut TV station WFSB. Books to Dreams distributes books to children in homeless shelters and to over 130 organizations that provide services to children in need. Some of my Cybils books found homes through Books to Dreams, and I've got another stack sitting on my desk just waiting for me to package them up and mail them off.

If you're a Connecticut resident (or any other resident) interested in making a book donation, keep in mind that they are looking for new or like new books. From the organization's website:

"We would like to let you know that quality is more important than quantity regarding donated books at this time. When a child in need receives a NEW book, that child feels special. When a child in need receives a NEW book, that child understands that reading and books must be important. Most of the time, these children receive used, old, discarded and sometimes broken things."

Some of these kids may not have had many opportunities to read, and their interest in reading may not be that great. Owning a new book could be the first step toward drawing them into the reading experience and making a difference in their lives.