March 04, 2004

By: Mellisa Oskar
Website: http://www.1st-in-kids.com

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing donated 100,000 children’s books during National Children’s Book Week

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing announced today that the company will donate 100,000 children’s books during National Children’s Book Week to First Book, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to giving children from low-income families the opportunity to read and to own their first new books.

The donation will benefit ten cities: Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; Minneapolis, MN; Dallas, TX; New York, NY; Boston, MA; Seattle, WA; and Detroit, MI. Since 1919, educators, librarians, booksellers, and families have celebrated National Children’s Book Week just prior to Thanksgiving.

Book Week events are held in schools, libraries, bookstores, clubs, private homes—any place where there are children and books.

Simon & Schuster is proud to support First Book’s ongoing efforts to introduce children to books and reading, said Kristina Peterson, president of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and member of the First Book board of directors. What better time than National Children’s Book Week to celebrate that connection?

Providing new books to children from low-income families during National Children’s Book Week is the very core of our mission, states Kyle Zimmer, president of First Book.

One of the biggest obstacles these children face is access to books. Corporate leaders like Simon & Schuster are making a real difference in the lives of the children who need these books the most.

In addition to the book donation, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and First Book will celebrate reading in America by creating an I’m a Reader button and blue ribbon initiative during National Children’s Book Week. Educators, parents, booksellers, and children nationwide are invited to wear a blue ribbon or to tie one to their backpack/school bag to let the public know how much they enjoy reading.

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and First Book will also provide I’m a Reader buttons to the mayors of those cities receiving a book donation and to the National Council of Teachers of English convention in Atlanta.

First Book is a national nonprofit organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. The primary goal of First Book is to work with existing literacy programs to distribute new books to children who, for economic reasons, have little or no access to books. Last year First Book distributed 7 million books to hundreds of thousands of children in more than 700 communities nationwide.

About The Author:

Mellisa Oskar is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-kids.com.  Helping parents find kid-approved clothes, toys, games, books, activities and more.