Our 9th annual fall fundraiser Books On Tap Virtual Campaign is almost here, and this year looks a little different than in years past.
Books On Tap 2020 Co-Chairs Cate Stein and Kayla Boal have worked very hard to ensure that guests have the same experience safely at home as they would in years past. We want to recognize their hard work and dedication to this year’s virtual campaign, Party At Home Packages, sponsorships, silent auction items and more! This year’s Books On Tap is going to be awesome!
Well, dear readers, a month has flown by , and some kids are in school while others remain at home learning remotely. Those kindergartners who’ve been lucky enough to have been recipients of the Reach Out and Read program will be well prepared to begin their elementary school careers, whatever that beginning may be.
A recent article explored the effectiveness of various book giveaway programs, and found that the Reach Out and Read model was the most effective of all of the programs reviewed.
Why? Because we involve TWO generations – the parents as well as the child. Parents receive advice and education from a trusted health care provider on how and why to share books with their children, along with the gift of a new, developmentally-appropriate book! The frequent visits that families have with their pediatric health care provider who demonstrates ways to share the new book is thought to contribute to the effectiveness of the Reach Out and Read program.
Meet 4-year-old Jayleen. She was delighted to have her own books to take home!
The inequities that persist in our society – including throughout healthcare – are top of mind as we are bombarded with COVID-19 news. This inequality is also pervasive throughout education; children living in poverty have reduced access to language-rich environments and high-quality preschool.
The gift of a book and the advice that comes with it may seem like a small thing, yet participation in Reach Out and Read has been shown to truly make a difference for the children that we reach. ROR-KC staff are so grateful to our generous donors whose gifts continue to allow us to provide great books, along with information to the families that we serve. Please know that what you give makes a difference in children’s lives every day.
Now, wash your hands, put on your masks, and don’t touch your faces as we navigate the new normal of these times.
We are excited to announce that Stefanie Estes has joined ROR-KC as our part-time Book Coordinator! She grew up outside Albuquerque and studied film at the University of New Mexico and holds a Masters’ degree in Library Science from Indiana University. For over a decade, Stefanie served patrons of all ages as a children’s librarian, teacher’s assistant, library manager, and adult book group facilitator in the Kansas City area before joining the ROR-KC team. In her spare time, she enjoys laughing with her husband over internet memes, reading to her three and five-year-old boys and taking walks as a family. She also loves recommending books to anyone she meets everywhere she goes.
Her favorite children’s books include Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina, Are You My Mother? By P.D. Eastman, Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton, Hug by Jez Alborough and Nibbles:The Book Monster by Emma Yarlett.
