International Book Giving Day, Valentine's Day and Book Giving Day

International Book Giving Day Coming Up!

January 23, 2013

International Book Giving Day is also Valentine’s Day

I joined some great children’s book Google Plus Communities recently and I got the heads up about International Book Giving Day which, incidentally, falls on Valentine’s Day. I wanted to get the word out since I know I will need a few weeks to organize my children’s books to find a pile to donate.

Delightful Children’s Books was the first blogger to alert me. She has a wonderful children’s book blog that I read religiously. She says:

International Book Giving Day is a 100% volunteer initiative aimed at increasing children’s access to and enthusiasm for books. We are inviting individuals to 1) give a book to a friend or family member, 2) leave a book in a waiting room for children to read, or 3) donate a gently used book to a local library, hospital or shelter or to an organization that distributes used books to children in need. You are also welcome to organize a book drive, fundraiser, volunteer event, book swap, story time session, etc. See bookgivingday.com!

International Book Giving Day, Valentine's Day and Book Giving Day

Author Maggie Lyons also posts on International Book Giving Day. She writes (and it gives me pause):

When some US states budget future prison beds based on fourth-grade reading scores, you begin to see how important literacy is. And just being able to read is not enough. Most Americans don’t read beyond ninth grade level. Many can’t understand the labels on their prescription medicine. Reading proficiency has a tangible impact on quality of life. Encourage the children you know and love to become avid readers.

Can you really change lives by doing something so simple as donating gently used or new children’s books? Yes! Yes, you can! Do you think you might be interested in participating? Please leave a comment if are and what you think you might do.

I’ll go first.

I plan to organize my piles of children’s books that threaten to take over the house much to the annoyance of my husband. I will donate at least one bag of books to my local literacy charity that helps inner city kids learn to read. I will also donate a pile of chapter books to my kids’ teachers for their classroom libraries.

Thank you for reading about International Book Giving Day and helping to get the word out! Together, we can make a difference!

p.s. Here is more information about International Book Giving Day. If you want the colorful poster for your classroom or office, please go here.

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Comments: 22 Posted by: Categories: Do Good

22 Comments

  1. Stacey
    January 23, 2013 at 8:32 am · Reply

    This is such a fun day! Can’t wait to participate :)
    Stacey recently posted…Books for No Name Calling WeekMy Profile
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  2. maryanne @ mama smiles
    January 23, 2013 at 10:36 am · Reply

    We’ll be donating books locally also. Love this movement!
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  3. maryanne @ mama smiles
    January 23, 2013 at 11:04 am · Reply

    I’m actually looking for a literacy non-profit still. Do you have one you recommend?
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    • Pragmatic Mom
      January 23, 2013 at 11:26 am · Reply

      Hi MaryAnne,
      To donate gently used children’s books? I’d ask your local library. Ours is part of Newton Community Serves … there is a volunteer group that teaches small kids to read as part of an early intervention English as second language program. They get books to keep because most of the kids don’t own any books. I think most local public libraries have a literacy volunteer group. The other literacy groups that are national just want $.

  4. Jeanette Nyberg
    January 23, 2013 at 12:24 pm · Reply

    Very cool! I especially love the idea of leaving books in waiting rooms. I’ve found that they get very bored reading Better Homes and Gardens.
    Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…A Lonely Beast Teaches ABCsMy Profile
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    • Pragmatic Mom
      January 24, 2013 at 8:11 am · Reply

      Hi Jeanette,
      You are so funny! Yes, waiting rooms is a great place to donate books for kids. My pediatrician would be the perfect waiting room because that practice gets a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds but it’s so far away from my house that we hardly go there. Oh … I remembered my mom friend Katherine who is a nurse practioner. She donates books to a medical office in a tougher part of town where the kids could really use books. I might give her a bag of books to drop off the next time she is there for work.
      Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Book Club for Boys: Percy Jackson and The Lightening ThiefMy Profile

  5. Kerry @ Climaco Classroom
    January 23, 2013 at 1:25 pm · Reply

    Fabulous ideas! Thanks for the reminder about this special day!
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  6. Amy
    January 23, 2013 at 3:11 pm · Reply

    Thank you for helping invite people to give books to children on February 14th! Maggie Lyons’ quote give me pause too. It’s great to hear your plans for celebrating.

    I like your reference to “at least one bag.” There are many of us in the book blogging community lucky enough to have lots of books we could give away. Just finding one a better home is a great place to start. Last year, when my daughter and I went searching for 10 books to give away (felt like a manageable goal), we found 50 on her shelf. This year, my plan is to give away Cybils books and books from my youngest son’s bookshelf that all three of my children have outgrown.
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    • Pragmatic Mom
      January 24, 2013 at 8:23 am · Reply

      Hi Amy,
      I totally agree with you! I am blessed with books. My youngest who is my only boy has books that once he’s done with will be perfect to get other little boys to love reading. I am going to give those to his second grade teacher. This is just her 2nd year of teaching and so her classroom library isn’t as robust as other teachers who have been teaching longer. I think books for her (though a teacher is not on the list) will have the best shot of reaching lots of kids and possibly getting them to love reading. We have that great series Worst Case Scenario Choose Your Own Adventure chapter books, for example. We loved them but you only read them once.

      I also have some non-fiction, advanced picture books and graphic novels for her.

      For younger kids’s books, my local literacy organization does early intervention so I’ll donate there. Unfortunately, I don’t have many board books because they could use those.

      Where are you donating? Choosing well makes a difference too, I think!
      Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Book Club for Boys: Percy Jackson and The Lightening ThiefMy Profile

  7. Leslie
    January 23, 2013 at 7:51 pm · Reply

    That statistic about prison beds and 4th grade reading scores gives me the shivers, and makes me know I have do something about it. Maybe books in those Salvation Army and other ‘bins’ is another way to contribute.
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  8. Jackie Higgins
    January 24, 2013 at 7:51 am · Reply

    Wow, think how many happy husbands there would be if we all donate some of our books on book giving day. I think I”ll join you but I have to find a good spot to donate. It’ll be fun to investigate where there’s a need for good books! Thanks for sharing.
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  9. Ann
    January 24, 2013 at 9:50 pm · Reply

    I already have a box full and ready to go! Also I am planning a free ebook of a bunch of my rhyming posts to be ready for that day : )
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  10. Ann
    January 25, 2013 at 10:04 am · Reply

    Okay, maybe that will give me some needed motivation!
    Ann recently posted…Tweet Hearts Giveaway and Math PrintableMy Profile
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  11. Katrina
    January 27, 2013 at 6:20 pm · Reply

    Great ideas here! I’m so excited about the idea of a day for giving books. That quote by Maggie Lyons is a great reminder of how important literacy and access to engaging and quality books are!

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