by author Chieu Urban
Thank you Tara, for inviting me to spread awareness of Books and Smiles for Haiti to this talented group of authors, illustrators, agents, editors, and children’s book enthusiasts.
For the past few summers, I have shared my books with the children of Haiti, and the pictures and smiles and thankful notes I’ve received remind me of why I enjoy creating books for kids. I think that it would be fantastic if they were to receive even more books from our community.
Please join me in sharing your wonderful books for the sweet children of Haiti. Although their needs are much bigger, these gifts will bring smiles to their faces and joy to their day.
I am thankful to President Steven Mooser of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for kindly donating two boxes of books and jump starting the campaign! The amazing people of Life Connection Mission are dedicated to getting the books to the children. They are a non-profit organization serving the poorest children in the Western Hemisphere. A special thank you to the generous authors, illustrators, and children’s book community who have already contributed to this project.
We are collecting board books, picture books, beginning readers, and information books with pictures of animals, science, space, and more.
Our goal is to have a really great collection of books by the end of the school year, when they will be crated up and transported to Haiti. I am very excited about this project and look forward to partnering with our talented children’s book community.
If you would like to participate in Books and Smiles for Haiti, please email me at chieuurbanstudio (at) gmail (dot) com for the mailing address. Together, we will see our efforts grow. Please join our Facebook group page for updates.
Thank you, Chieu!
And now for the giveaway…
If you pledge to donate to Books and Smiles for Haiti, I will enter you into a drawing for a picture book critique from me, Tara Lazar. I will keep the comment thread open through the month of March. Just leave a comment stating you’ve donated in order to be eligible for the critique. And thank you for supporting this wonderful cause!
This was a great post. May is HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH. This is wonderful that Chieu Urban is doing this. Good for her
What wonderful work you are doing, Chieu! Taking up space in my closet are author copies of my Rookie Read-About Geography books—7 books on the 7 continents. I have emailed Chieu about donating them.
Thank you, Chieu, and thank you Tara for helping to spread the word!
Tara…although there are many worthy organizations that are helping put books into the hands of kids, there aren’t enough – organizations OR books! Thanks for introducing us to BOOKS AND SMILES FOR HAITI and the dedicated Chieu Urban. I’d love to hop on board – and will be emailing Chieu right away to see how I can help.
I am always happy to donate to a good cause like this one. I’ve emailed Chieu with my donation.
Angela
I’m contacting Chieu next. I recently donated copies to the Pajama Program through Goodreads because I know the magic that happens when a child holds a picture book. Thank you for reminding us, Tara.
I’m always open to a challenge or a good cause, so count me in! I love helping young readers. I am more than happy to donate a picture book to Chieu for Books and Smiles for Haiti!
Getting books in the hands of children is a wonderful cause. My sister regularly volunteers as a nurse in Haiti and I’ve sent many basic items with her for kids and families. Now why on earth didn’t I think to send books? I’m in!
Thanks, Tara. Once I hear back from Ms. Urban, Blue Whale Press and I will be donating a box (24 brand new books) of BUTTERFLY KISSES FOR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA.
Count me in, this effort speaks to my soul.
What a great effort.