What a week for book lovers. We get to celebrate the 100th birthday of Beverly Cleary and the 75th anniversary of Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings. NPR did a fabulous story about how McCloskey came up with those delightful ducks, characters so clear that everyone across the world (but especially Bostonians) loved them dearly. And here is Nick Kristoff’s homage to Beverly Clearly, with whom he shared a home town. This quote pretty much says it all: “We measure child poverty by household income, but a better metric might be how often a child hears stories read aloud.”
Milk + Bookies, a national nonprofit for children’s literacy and service learning, is about spreading the love of reading to those who can’t afford books and is founded on a service learning model in which kids gather gently used books and create libraries to donate to underserved sister schools. The program is export-able to any classroom in the country, and is run by the inspired Meredith Alexander.
You can celebrate a love of books this month by joining with Milk + Bookies in their annual fundraising celebration. Normally, this celeb-filled event is closed to the public, but this year you can participate by attending the 7th annual Story Time Celebration.
Join Milk + Bookies on Sunday, April 17 for a day of family fun featuring celebrity readers, story-inspired arts & crafts, a chance to meet your favorite literary characters, scavenger hunt, flip books, delicious snacks…and, of course, milk & cookies! This event is a SUPER BLOW OUT version of the “host your own” book-raiser. Children are invited to DO THE GIVING!
Browse a bookstore generously provided by Discover Books where children can choose books, inscribe them with a personal message, and donate them to local at-risk peers in the Title 1 LAUSD schools of Watts, Compton, Lynwood and surrounding inner cities.
Sunday, April 17th 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
California Market Center in DTLA
