Hot and humid road trips to give away books
It’s been a long, hot and busy week. I have driven close to 700 miles, which I know for some isn’t very much, but when I am a performer, and not a truck driver, it feels a lot! The weather has been hot and humid, and sometimes I have to say I have resorted to using the A/C in the car, although I am usually a windows-open-year-round kind of person! All of these miles have been throughout New Hampshire and Vermont from one end to the other, and some of them have been book giveaways for the Children’s Literacy Foundation. The Children Literacy Foundation (CLiF) provides brand new books for kids in rural and inner city areas where they might not have great access to books. Sometimes these are the first books kids get to keep. It is both heart-rendering and joy filling to be able to give a child their first book.
CLiF has opened me up to new authors I might not have found as an adult. There is a committee made up of librarians, teachers, parents etc, who pick out the books. They range from “Blueberries for Sal” and “The Hungry Caterpillar" to Jason Reynolds’ “Long Way Down,” "Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow" by Jessica Townsend, "Chef's Secret" by Kelly Yang, and graphic novels like "On Guard!: A Marshall Middle School Graphic Novel" by Cassidy Wasserman and "One Crazy Summer: The Graphic Novel" by Rita Williams-Garcia. And my own book, “Under the Oaken Bough,” a collection of retold folk and fairy tales!
I still have copies available!
Jason Reynolds has become one of my top ten writers - period. He is so good. And kids love his work. Right now, I have on my bedside table Joseph Bruchac’s “Peacemaker” about the coming together of the Iroquois Confederation. Historical fiction.
I was once a reluctant reader, and it was my wonderful librarian at Perdiswell Primary School, all those years ago, who persevered and got me to read “My Side of the Mountain” all the way through. Up to then it has been mostly Enid Blyton! “My Side of the Mountain” was a book faire book and she gave it to me to keep and then a few years ago I heard there was a sequel and I have that waiting to be read! Jean George led me to Farley Mowatt (well, it led my Canadian Aunt and Uncle who led me to Mowatt) which led me to other outdoor books, which led me to books about kids surviving World War Two (The Silver Sword), which led to other adventure and sc-fi books. I have always been into folk and fairy tales since a wee child!
Today I am catching up on emails and planning, believe it or not, for a festival in September in Lehi, Utah. It’s a big one. Over 12,000 people show up to hear stories told by a great selection of storytellers - https://timpfest.org/
I have to say, though, even though Utah has great mountains, I do love driving around the mountains here in NH and VT. There’s something very special about them. I think in part because the countryside around here reminds me of home.
Here are some photos from this week as I have traveled about. Places I have been to, things I have seen, and friends I have met!
Going back to CLiF, as you can see, at some venues there are a LOT of books. The idea is that each child, each camper gets to pick out whatever book they want and they get to keep it. Because I believe and CLiF believes that a reluctant reader is only a person who has not found the right book yet, there is a huge selction to choose from. Non-fiction, fiction, poetry, board books, picture books, early reader books. Fantasy, sci-fi, books about animals (sharks and dinos abound), books about emotions, adventure books, mystery books, graphic novels, even encyclopedias. Imagine an incredibly well curated mini bookstore where the books are for young people and for free!
What books are you reading right now? What beach book is floating your boat?
Be well! Stay hydrated and wear sunscreen!
