by Amanda Schwartz
This past summer, we broke 100,000 books given to West Virginia students and families since the establishment of our database in 2016. Currently, we are up to 107,395 books distributed. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of local volunteer chapters across the state and partnerships with 147 schools, helping to put our books in the hands of their students.
One of many such partnerships is with Madison Elementary School in Wood County. There, Assistant Principal Cindy Oxender is in annual contact with our state office, requesting books and coordinating their transportation from Kanawha to Wood County.
This fall, we gave them 305 assorted books for a Halloween distribution event.
Oxender took the traceable letter books we provided to Kindergarten with a mini-lesson on how to use them and where to write their name on the bookplate on each book.
One little girl exclaimed, “It is good you told us about this because my mom told me never to write in books!”
It came out later that most of this child’s books at home come from the library, and she does not have many books that are hers personally. She was so excited to have a new book of her very own, and writing her name inside reinforced that pride of ownership and positive connection to reading. This is why we include bookplates in every book we distribute.
Many children experience barriers to owning their own books, like this child, despite the fact that research clearly shows a link between book ownership and reading achievement. That’s why free, choice-based book distribution programs like ours are essential to serving the literacy needs of West Virginia students. Children need access to books they’re interested in if they are to build their reading skills independently and become lifelong learners.