Children’s Book Week 2012

We are committed to early childhood literacy so it should come as no surprise that we are delighted to be officially kicking off Children’s Book Week 2012 with our “Read Every Day at Scholastic” Family Event on Sunday, May 6th!

For those who may be unfamiliar with Children’s Book Week, please let us fill you in. Started in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Around the nation, this is a week when all things “reading” are celebrated. There will be author and illustrator appearances, story telling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes. 

The Children’s Book Awards, which are an integral part of the celebrations, have already begun; children and teens can vote online now for their favorite books, authors, and illustrators of the year. Awards are given in six categories:

Kindergarten to 2nd Grade Book of the Year
3rd to 4th Grade Book of the Year
5th to 6th Grade Book of the Year
Teen Choice Book of the Year
Author of the Year
Illustrator of the Year

At Books For Kids, we believe it is incredibly important that all children be introduced to books as early and as often as possible so we are honored to be a part of such an important and historic occasion! We encourage you and your family to take part in the week and, fortunately, the Children’s Book Council has wonderfully creative ways for families and educators to do so. In addition to voting in one (or all!) of the six categories, these are a few of our favorite ways: stage a “Read-In”, download printable puzzles and bookmarks, or hold a book exchange!

Of course, we would love nothing more than if you and your family joined us for the “Read Every Day at Scholastic” Family Event to kick off Children’s Book Week with a grand party! 

Hello world!

And welcome to our brand new blog!

The mission of the Books for Kids Foundation is to promote literacy among all children with a special emphasis on low-income and at-risk preschool-aged children. Books for Kids creates libraries, donates books, and partners with literacy programs to develop the critical early foundation and skills which young children need to be successful in life.

Studies show that emergent literacy in preschoolers must be supported by a print-rich environment. Books for Kids ensures that Department of Education-recommended books are available wherever children spend their day, by donating books and establishing libraries in those facilities. We also ensure that each child receives a brand new book to take home and share with their family.

We are extremely excited to be embarking on the not-so-new blogging frontier! We have many heart-warming stories about our kids to share as well as insight into what more can be done to help bridge the literacy gap. We plan to have guest posters including children’s books authors, celebrity supporters, Books For Kids volunteers, and the amazing teachers who work in the libraries we create. Of course, we invite your topic suggestions, comments, and questions!

Together, we can make a difference- So let’s get started!