MotherReader

Killing time on New Year's Eve, an email reminder about Donors Choose sent me looking around the site. As I always do there, I searched for book projects in either Virginia or D.C., not committed to giving a specific amount as much as seeing what might connect. I was caught by this request looking for specific beginning reader titles:

These books, by Jan Thomas and Mo Willems, are ones that young readers will read again and again and again. The stories are hilarious, the illustrations are simple, but brilliant. The vocabulary and wording are accessible. These are the first books my students search for when we visit the library each week.

My students are willing to struggle and work hard to become readers. They love books, both independently and when shared. These books will ensure that every student can find a copy of a book they want to read.

Oh yeah, I can connect to a book list of Mo Willems titles. Without a second thought, I donated enough to buy all the Elephant & Piggie series (plus a contribution to Donors Choose). Others donated enough for the rest of the books, meaning that the class will be able to enjoy them very soon. The teacher's thank you note made me so happy, so I'll share it too:

I am so excited to return to school tomorrow and tell my students that we will soon be receiving a huge box full of Jan Thomas and Mo Willems' books. I know these titles will all be in their book boxes as soon as they arrive in our classroom. These two authors are favorites of everyone in our class (including me) so these books will be highly anticipated and much loved. Thank you so much for your generosity towards my students and myself. These emerging readers will grow quickly and with great excitement in their reading thanks to you.

What a great way to begin a new year! Giving books to kids who want, need, and love them!

I knew that there was a reason I couldn’t start my blog post today. I was waiting for this announcement to come through my email:

In 2000, a teacher in the Bronx started DonorsChoose with the help of his students. This month marks our 10th anniversary, and we just received a gift that made our decade...

Townsend Press has donated one million (!) dollars to fund all book requests down to just $98 or less — on the condition that folks like you take them across the finish line. As a previous supporter of literacy projects, we thought you’d find this as exciting as we do.

Our birthday wish is that you’ll help bring a local book request to life.

Let’s celebrate 10 years by hooking tens of thousands of students on reading!

Thank you,
The DonorsChoose.org Team

Kidlitosphere, let’s help them out! This great charity offers a unique way of funding smaller projects in specific classrooms. I’ve donated through the 48 Hour Book Challenge and made it our charity for last year’s KidLitCon. My teen made DC schools her community project last year, and donated money that she made to help the project. I’ve received letters from the kids that would melt your heart — for two reasons, really. One, because the kids are sincerely grateful. But also because the writing is remedial, which emphasizes how much these kids need books. And people who care. Be one of them.

Edited to add: I just helped complete the drive to get this classroom in Virginia some beginning reader books. See how easy it is?