Thoughts
"No books at all" is a phrase that haunts me. Honestly, after working with First Book all these years, I still can’t tell you that I grasp what that really means for a child --- no bedtime stories, no reading under the covers with a flashlight and slim hope for a strong future.
We all know that there is a lot of bad news these days. In the face of all of the dire predictions, however, there is good news to report: we know what makes a reader. In fact, research tells us that the single critical factor that determines whether a child becomes a reader is access to reading materials – specifically, the number of age-appropriate books in the home. So First Book is all about good news for children because giving children and the programs that serve children wonderful new books works. Programs build curriculum, kids get excited, and futures brighten. At First Book we are driven to reach every child who needs us because once you meet these kids and see the light in their eyes when they receive books of their own – you can never forget them. For example, I have never forgotten a little boy who came running up to me at a First Book event in Southern Ohio – not far from where I grew up – and he said – in his best Southern Ohio accent – “Ma’am, do you have any Spanish books?†I asked him if he was learning to speak Spanish and he said “No, but I know that it is out there and this is my big chance!†I have never forgotten that boy. I carry him with me everywhere I go. There are millions of children waiting for their big chance. They shouldn’t have to wait. |
