The Birthday Party Pledge

1 Aug 2011 news 9 Comments 0

Do you have kids in your life? Would you be willing, for one year, to give ONLY multicultural books as birthday presents? Last week I wrote a guest post for my favorite literacy org, Behind the Book. If you’re looking for a way to encourage reading in children, I hope you’ll consider making a donation to this wonderful program that brings authors into urban schools AND provides each child with a signed book. In my post I consider “The Real Value of Free Books,” noting that books in the home make a huge impact on a child’s academic success, yet the habit of book-buying isn’t always present in low-income areas. We need to find ways to develop that habit, and the BPP is one idea. Do you have any others? Does giving away books diminish their actual value, or can a free book still be a prized possession?

activism, book culture, children's literature, education, equity, multicultural literature

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9 Comments

rhapsodyinbooks

1 Aug 2011 Reply

For years I have only and still do given my nieces multicultural books, but without parental support, they go right into the zone of Presents Never Seen Again. I'm thinking that READING the books to them needs to be part of the present! (although last time I was home and asked for a book to read to them, it was not able to be located....)
elliottzetta

1 Aug 2011 Reply

It's really hard to regulate what goes on in the privacy of people's homes...I am not sure that the mere presence of books in the home makes a difference--not if they're strewn across the floor or otherwise disused. You're right--it's the respect for and regular use of books that seems to matter most. I didn't have many books in my home but we saw our mother reading constantly and we went to the library every week. It's about practice, not just property...I guess mentoring a child might be the answer.
amymckie

3 Aug 2011 Reply

No kids in my life but I'm definitely behind this! My little sister is due in about a month and my new (first!) niece or nephew will be receiving lots of multicultural books from me! I think Jill makes a great point about parents really needing to support the gifts as well and actually read to the child, and read these books.

elliottzetta

4 Aug 2011 Reply

Hey, Amy--let me know where you're able to find multicultural books in Toronto. I'd love to know what kind of selection can be found at Book City or Chapters; A Different Booklist doesn't carry my books, but I hear other indies stock titles by Lee & Low Books. And congrats on the new niece/nephew!

amymckie

10 Aug 2011 Reply

I'm interested to see as well, and a little scared that there won't be much. I just found A Different Booklist the other day and was so happy to see it. Disappointing that they don't carry your book. I'll have to make a point to ask about it next time I'm in :D

Carol Franks-Randall

6 Jan 2018 Reply

I love the idea of giving multicultural books as gifts. Do you maintain a database of multicultural books?

Zetta Elliott

11 Jan 2018 Reply

We do! Though this site hasn't been updated in a while: https://birthdaypartypledge.wordpress.com/

We also compile annual lists of African American middle grade and young adult novels, and this list of speculative fiction by Black authors: http://www.zettaelliott.com/wordpress/african-american-speculative-fiction-for-kids/

Carol Franks-Randall

11 Jan 2018 Reply

Is there a way to have you consider adding my picture book Jamal and Me to your database?

Zetta Elliott

11 Jan 2018 Reply

We're no longer updating The Birthday Party Pledge site but if you have a MG or YA novel, watch this site at year's end to submit titles.

The Birthday Party Pledge

9 Comments

rhapsodyinbooks

elliottzetta

amymckie

elliottzetta

amymckie

Carol Franks-Randall

Zetta Elliott

Carol Franks-Randall

Zetta Elliott

Thoughts?

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