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The Friends of ALSC is accepting tax-deductible donations (image courtesy of the Friends of ALSC)

It’s not too late to become a Friend of ALSC!

Friends’ projects have a powerful impact not only on our members, but also on their larger communities as a whole. Friends of ALSC support activities such as innovative conference programs and institutes, 21st century challenges, professional development and early literacy projects.

As you are making your plans for the holidays and your final year-end donations for the 2015 tax year, we hope that you will include Friends of ALSC in those plans and show your continuing support for creating a better future for children. Every contribution helps ALSC support the work of our members and meet new challenges.

Be sure to check out the new 2015 Friends of ALSC Annual Report as well to read about all of the great things the Friends did in 2015.

The post Join the Friends of ALSC appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Every year, Colleen from Chasing Ray and Guys Lit Wire sets up a special book fair connected to Ballou Senior High School in Washington, D.C. In Colleen's own words:

Every year, Guys Lit Wire lends its platform to host a book fair for Ballou. Working with librarian Melissa Jackson and her students, we build a wish list of titles they need and then ask the internet to buy a book (or 2) (or more) and send some joy their way. It's quick and it's easy and for book lovers in particular, it's a no-brainer.

We all know that books matter to kids, and we all know why buying books for teens who do not have wide access to them is a smart investment in our world's future. For Ballou, the school fund for book purchases is not large and as a Washington Post article showed earlier this year, the dollars for books in DC often go to wealthier neighborhoods. Also, when they get money schools like Ballou are often not able to purchase the sort of fun or seemingly frivolous titles that teens would really to read.

That is where the Guys Lit Wire Book Fair for Ballou comes in. We buy the books the kids ask for, plain and simple.

The mailing address is already set-up for checkout and there are nearly 400 books to choose from with a price range that starts under $5. We do hope you will find a book that you want to send to Ballou and help us fill their shelves with the titles these kids want so very much to read.

Here's the wishlist: http://tinyurl.com/BookFairforBallou

Please share the link to the wishlist as well as the link to Colleen's post at GLW via your blogs and social media to help spread the word.

Don't let it stop there. If you know of a library, school, shelter, or hospital that's in great need of books and other items, give back. Rally up your co-workers, patrons, students, and friends, gather donated items (new or gently used), and donate them to your chosen organization or charity. Share your good fortune and good spirits with others.

On October 9th at North Kipling Junior Middle School in Etobicoke, Ontario, bestselling children’s author and illustrator, Nicholas Oldland read and signed copies of his book ‘Up The Creek’. More than 40 Tata employee volunteers from Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Communications and Tata Global Beverages (Tetley Tea) joined First Book and Oldland to present each Grade 1 students with three brand new books.

Students (and volunteers!) listened enthusiastically as Nicholas Oldland, read “Big Bear Hug,” a book they had read last year in class.

This Grade 1 student was proud to take home an original Nicholas Oldland drawing of the big bear hugging a bus.

Jaguar Land Rover Canada President, Lindsay Duffield, shared the importance of reading to open doors in the future.

“It’s an honour to serve the neediest in our communities and equip the next generation with the most powerful tool to overcome poverty – a love of literacy and learning,” said volunteer Jennifer Dickens, Tata Global Beverages.

“Reading with the students at North Kipling Junior Middle School was even more rewarding than I expected! The students and I each had our books in front of us, and we all read out loud, together. It was an experience I’ll never forget, and I hope the kids won’t either,” said volunteer Shannon Harvey, Jaguar Land Rover Canada.

Tata companies are also making a larger donation of books to Ontario. This is Tata’s third book donation of 10,000 books in Canada since 2012. Many thanks to First Book Canada, Tata Companies, and their incredible employee volunteers for making this event so much fun!

The post Tata Companies Share Their Love of Reading appeared first on First Book Blog.

We can all learn something from the selfless acts of children. Check out these five stories of kids helping kids in need get new books.

1. The Best Neighbor Ever.

Crestwood Intermediate School in Mantua, Ohio puts others first. The 3rd-5th graders raised over $1300 through a First Book Virtual Book Drive. They set out to raise this money not for themselves, but for a neighboring school in their community, David Hill Learning Center. Crestwood was determined to make sure that their friends at David Hill would have books to call their own.

2. The 10-Year-Old Entrepreneur. 

Malaika became a young social entrepreneur at the ripe age of 10-years-old. She wanted kids less fortunate than her to be able to enjoy books so she raised money through a book and lemonade stand and donated it all to First Book. She provided over 30 books to kids in need.

3.  The  Coin Collectors

Students at Union Elementary in Farmington, CT turned pockets full of change into a bucket full of change. That bucket ended up providing 160 brand-new books to children affected by Hurricane Sandy.

4.  All You Need Is Change. 

Speaking of kids making change, third graders at Fisher Elementary in MN, collected loose change for six weeks. They took a walk to the local bank and turned all that change into a donation to First Book.

5. The Birthday Girl

Eight-year-old Siena didn’t want toys or presents for her eighth birthday. Instead, she wanted children in need to get new books. She surpassed her goal and got her birthday wish, placing over 150 brand-new books into the hands of kids in need.

Okay, So Now What? 

Join these amazing stories by helping kids in need have a steady stream of books throughout the school year.

The post 5 Inspiring Stories Of Kids Helping Kids appeared first on First Book Blog.

Hurricane Sandy caused much devastation to the East Coast. Families lost their homes, buildings were heavily damaged and countless children, families and schools lost libraries full of books.

The students at Union Elementary School in Farmington, CT, decided to take action.

Some Union Elementary students came across First Book’s initiative to raise money to provide new books to children affected by Hurricane Sandy. They wanted to contribute to First Book’s effort, so they collected loose change for a month.

Mrs. Banta, the school’s main office clerk, hauled a big bucket of change to Farmington Savings Bank, and got a check for more than $400, enough to provide 160 brand-new books to children affected by Hurricane Sandy.

“The leadership, staff, teachers, students and families of Union School strongly share First Book’s belief that books are among the critical resources that children need every day, and we were so pleased with the strong response we received from everyone in collecting change to turn into dollars, then a check, then lots of books for kids,” said Jessica Lister, a Union Elementary School mom and publicity co-chair of the PTO.

Although the storm has passed, many families and children are still living in shelters and have lost many of their personal belongings. You can help just as the kids at Union Elementary did, by clicking here. Every $2.50 you contribute will provide a new book to a child affected by the storm.

Following Part I of the story, I had always intended to bring books to the Christmas shop, but after the horrible events of Friday it felt even more important to do something in the cause of joy.

When I came back from my delivery, it was perfect to find that someone had expressed this concept so perfectly as Jarrett Krosoczka calling for us to Make Magic, Preserve Wonder. What better way to describe the importance of picture books in the hands of needy children.

Berkeley’s Barn Owl Dance
by Tera Johnson, illustrated by Tania Howells; Kids Can Press
Dancing right out of the nest and into our hearts.

Chavela and the Magic Bubble
by Monica Brown, illustrated by Magaly Morales; Clarion Books
Magical bubble gum takes a girl to the Yucatan. Better than Jet Blue.

Chicken Big
by Keith Graves; Chronicle Books
Silly hens, it’s just a big chicken. Look at the title.

Daniel Boone’s Great Escape
by Michael Spradlin, illustrated by Ard Hoyt; Walker Books
Historical fiction takes an adventurous turn.

Dogs on the Bed
by Elizabeth Bluemle, illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf; Candlewick
Too many dogs in a rhyming romp.

The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out
by Troy Cummings; Random House
Who cares what happens next with a great title like that.

Good Night, Chickie
by Emile Jadoul; Eerdmans Books
Chickie worries at bedtime, but Mommy has it covered.

How Do You Wokka Wokka?
by Elizabeth Bluemle, illustrated by Randy Cecil; Candlewick
A dance takes over a city neighborhood.

Imogene’s Antlers
by David Small; Dragonfly Books
Growing antlers overnight doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

I Must Have Bobo!
by Eileen Rosenthal, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal; Atheneum Books
A favorite lovey is essential to both boy and... cat?

Hurry Down to Derry Fair
by Dora Chaconas, illustrated by Gillian Tyler; Candlewick
Old-fashioned fair in an old-fashioned time.

Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear
by David Bruins, illustrated by Hilary Leung; Kids Can Press
A ninja, cowboy, and bear are friends with a conflict.

Lots of Dots
by Craig Frazier; Chronicle Books
A showcase of dogs in the world all around.

Metal Man
by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Paul Hoppe; Charlesbridge Publishing
Creating art out of junk and being a quiet inspiration.

Mine!
by Shutta Crum, illustrated by Patrice Barton; Knopf Books
Siblings squabble with one word – Mine!

Olu’s Dream
by Shane W. Evans; Katherine Tegan Books
Adventures begin at night.

Princess Baby, Night Night
by Karen Katz; Schwartz & Wade
Even little princesses must go to sleep.

Ron’s Big Mission
by Rose Blue and Corinne Naden, illustrated by Don Tate; Dutton Juvenile
Getting a library card. Becoming an astronaut. True story.

Six Crows
by Leo Lionni; Knopf Books
A scarecrow can’t chase these birds away, but fighting back isn’t the answer either.

Soup Day
by Melissa Iwai; Henry Holt & Co
Making soup with mom. Mmmm. Soup good.

Spoon
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Scott Magoon; Hyperion Books
It’s hard out there for a spoon.

Sunday is for God
by Michael McGowan, illustrated by Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson; Schwartz & Wade
Simple beauty in a day given to worship.

Ten Big Toes and a Prince’s Nose
by Nancy Gow, illustrated by Stephen Costanza; Sterling
Flawed princess and prince find each other, and happiness.

Ten for Me
by Barbara Mariconda, illustrated by Sherry Rogers; Sylvian Dell Publishing
Butterflies and math. Together again.

Ten on the Sled
by Kim Norman, illustrated by Liza Woodruff; Sterling
Winter fun on a sled, not a bed.

At this time of year, a local organization here sets up a Christmas shop for their needy clients to find presents for their children. For the past couple of years I've brought them books from the ones I received as a reviewer and Cybils panelist.

I am very picky in my selection, knowing that this might be the only book that the child receives this holiday. Maybe even this year. Assuming that the parent won't be looking through for the exact right title for their child, I look for broad appeal and happy topics.

I am sharing the books in two parts, with today's selection being mainly 2011 titles. It always makes me feel bad that I can't review so many of the books that I have received, but I am grateful to the publishers who have sent me books over the years and allowed me to pass them on to others. Thank you, and know that your books went to a child in need.

The Big Snuggle-up
by Brian Patten, illustrated by Nicola Bayley; Kane Miller
Everyone comes in to get warm, together.

Bug and Bear: A Story of True Friendship
by Ann Bonwill, illustrated by Layn Marlow; Amazon Children’s Publishing
Bear needs alone time, but Bug is persistent. Sometimes friendship is compromise.

Buglette the Messy Sleeper
by Bethanie Murguia; Tricycle Press
Buglette's messy sleeping saves the day!

Charlie the Ranch Dog
by Rec Drummond, illustrated by Diane deGroat; Harper Collins
Charlie does all the work around that ranch. Wink.

Chicken, Chicken, Duck
by Nadia Krilanovich; Tricycle Press
Lots of farm animals, beautifully illustrated.

A Dog is a Dog
by Stephen Shaskan; Chronicle Books
Bouncing rhymes take a dog through a series of surprises for the reader.

Edwin Speaks Up
by April Stevens, illustrated by Sophie Blackall; Schwartz & Wade
Busy family can't quite hear their littlest member, but he keeps it together.

Every Little Thing
by Bob Marley and Cedelia Marley, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton; Chronicle Books
Bob Marley lyrics in a joyful, beautiful book.

Falcon
by Tim Jessell; Random House
A falcon's journey, a boy's imagination.

Farmyard Beat
by Lindsey Craig and Marc Brown; Knopf Books
Dancing rhythms down on the farm

I Like You the Best
by Carol Thompson; Holiday House
Friends can fight, make up, and still be best friends.

Is Everyone Ready for Fun?
by Jan Thomas; Beach Lane Books
Jumping on the couch has never looked so good.

Jam and Honey
by Melita Morales, illustrated by Laura J. Bryant; Tricycle Press
Girl afraid of bee, bee afraid of girl, but both get what they need.

Job Site
by Nathan Clement; Boyds Mills Press
Construction and trucks on the job.

The Lighthouse Santa
by Sara Hoagland Hunter, illustrated by Julia Miner; Flying Dog
True story of a Santa who visited remote locations.

Light Up the Night
by Jean Reidy, illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine; Hyperion Books
The universe in the colorful, imaginary travels of a young boy.

Moo, Moo, Brown Cow
by Phillis Gershator, illustrated by Giselle Potter; Random House
All the farm animals contribute, not just the black sheep.

Mrs Noah’s Vegetable Ark
by Elena Pasquali, illustrated by Steve Larvis; Lion UK
Noah brought the animals, but his wife remembered the food.

Olive and Snowflake
by Tammie Lyon; Amazon Children’s Publishing
A puppy needs obedience training, along with his owner.

Ollie the Purple Elephant
by Jarrett Krosoczka; Knopf Books
A purple elephant joins a family and then the circus.

Pussycat, Pussycat
by Dan Bar-el, illustrated by Rae Mate; Simply Read Books
The pussycat visited the queen and a whole lot more.

Shoes for Me
by Sue Fliess, illustrated by Mike Laughead; Amazon Children’s Publishing
Picking just the right shoes can be a challenge, but a fun one.

The Snow Blew Inn
by Dian Curtis Regan, illustrated by Doug Cushman; Holiday House
When a snow storm strike, this little inn is ready for company.

Tom’s Tweet
by Jill Esbaum, illustrated by Dan Santat; Knopf Books
Simple breakfast plans get complicated.

The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot
by Margaret McNamare, illustrated by Mark Fearing; Schwartz & Wade
A space-age fairy tale.

Together, we’ve put over 100 million new books into the hands of children who need them, and we’re counting on your support this holiday season. This year, thanks to our friends at Disney, the impact of your gift will be tripled!

Every $2.50 donated to First Book provides one brand-new, high-quality book for a child from a low-income family. And Disney has agreed to match every one of those books with two additional books, from now through the end of the year. Click here to donate.

As always, when you donate to First Book, you can be sure your money is being used wisely; 97% of donations to First Book go directly to provide new, high-quality books to kids in need. (That’s how we won our four-star rating from Charity Navigator.)

Thanks for being part of our work, and happy holidays from everyone at First Book!

Today’s guest blog post is an excerpt from avid reader, Jacquelyn Adams. She is currently in medical school where she is pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor. Education has always been an important issue for Jacquelyn. She lends her support to this issue by raising money for First Book through a virtual book drive in which she created for her love of reading.

Reading has been an enormous part of my life for as long as I can remember. I used to get sent to the principal’s office in third grade for leaving my desk to hide in the corner of the room and finish my latest Box Car Children Mystery. Without the novels of my childhood, I have no idea what my life would be like. I grew up in a world of stories, adventures, romances, and mythical creatures. It is why I am who I am today.

Last semester, I heard a story that brought me to tears. One of the surgeons I was shadowing was talking about a story he saw online. It was about a program called First Book that had come to southern West Virginia and was helping provide books to children in need. He said that over half of the middle schoolers in that area had never owned their own book. I was blown away.

By seventh grade, I had multiple bookshelves filled to the brim and more overdue library books than a thesis student. How could a seventh grader not far from my front door not own a single book? I asked him as much, and he said “That is why you are in medical school and they are struggling to graduate high school.”

Every time I think about this conversation, I feel guilt and determination. Every child deserves the joy of reading. Every child deserves the chance to live in a world of stories, adventures, romances, and mythical creatures. Every child deserves his or her own first book. That is why I am starting this fundraising page. I hope you all can help, and I hope you will choose to get involved with First Book.

Jacquelyn aimed to raise $200 through a virtual book drive and has already succeeded in reaching her goal. Just like Jacquelyn, you or anyone you know can create a virtual book drive to support First Book in an effort to get books to children in need.

The thing that I like about First Book is that kids can have their own books in their own houses that their parents can read to them, and, later, that they can read themselves.
– Jane Greene, First Book supporter

Jane Greene is a longtime supporter of First Book. She isn’t a wealthy philanthropist, but she is the kind of person that all good causes look for – a dedicated, constant cultivator of people and projects she believes in. She’s also someone who understands the importance of helping kids in need have new books to read.

“I always send books as baby gifts,” Greene said. “The value of reading and owning books has been in my life always.”

Greene works at a nonprofit as well, the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County in Maryland. (Two of the agency’s programs – Kensington Wheaton Youth Services and Bridges to Pals – actually work with First Book to get new books for their kids, although Greene actually found out about First Book during a promotional campaign with Borders bookstore.)

“The thing that I like about First Book is that kids can have their own books in their own houses that their parents can read to them, and, later, that they can read themselves,” Greene said.

“No gift is too small,” Green added. “I just decided to commemorate special occasions, acts of kindness and holidays by sending a little something to First Book.”

Not only have Greene’s contributions put brand-new books into the hands of kids from low-income families, she typically makes donations in the name of others, many of whom, when they find out about the gift and the work First Book does, go on to become supporters themselves. (It wasn’t easy to get Greene to agree to be profiled. “I was always the one behind the scenes,” she said. “That’s the way I like to influence and educate others.”)

First Book couldn’t do the work that we do without the open-hearted generosity of people like Jane Greene. Thanks, Jane! We’re glad you’re in our corner.

Click here to help get books to kids in need in your community by supporting First Book.

We are up to 263 people attending the conference. We are capping the attendance off at 350, since that is the max the amphitheater will hold. If you plan on booking a room at the hotel at the conference rate, there are 39 over night rooms left.  Eighteen of them for Friday night and 21 for Saturday night, so please don’t delay making those reservations.  Book now.  If you call the hotel and can not get a conference rate room, let me know.  I can probably get the hotel to add some additional rooms, if you can let me know before May 5th.

We only have two and a half months to get everything done.  So we are working hard to make things happen.  One of those things is raising money for our Scholarship Fund.  Many of you have been helped by this program, which makes it an important program to continue.  The money is given out during the year to help SCBWI members with financial problems attend New Jersey SCBWI events.  It is not based on writing or illustrating skills, but preference is given to act members who are serious about their writing/illustrating and would not be able to attend otherwise.

This year we will not be having our normal raffle, since SCBWI Headquarters has told us, we are not allowed to run a raffle.  So this year we will have the items, but it will be done with a silent auction. The flaw with doing it this way, is that people who can not afford to bid as high as someone else, will be left out.  So we plan on asking attendees to donate to the Scholarship Fund, even if it is only $5, $10, or $15.  Anyone who donates money for the fund will be able to choose a “Thank you gift” from the display table with donated items.

Types of things that have been donated in the past:  Movie, Theatre, Baseball Tickets; Printers, Theme Baskets, Gift Certificates, Artwork, Signed books, Critiques, Weekend get-a-ways, Professional Photo shoot, Sound Stage Studio time, etc.  Please e-mail Betsy Devany [email protected] if you have an items you can donate.  She will work with you on how to send.

Illustrators:  Do you have a piece of art you can donate, this would be a wonderful way to get noticed.  You piece will be on display the whole weekend in the Silent Auction.  Even if you aren’t attending the conference, you could have your art on display for 32 editors/agent/art directors to see.  If you are attending and plan to display a piece in the Art Exhibit, you could get another piece of y our work seen by all the faculty by donating another piece.  Some illustrators have offered original paintings (illustrators would maintain full rights to the artwork).  Even if you don’t have an original piece of your work to donate, a signed print would be awesome.

Authors:  We would love a signed book or books.  Last year, we had authors offer critiques.  Some added lunch or a phone conversation with the winner to discuss the manuscript.  You can be creative.  Again, you do not have to be attending the conference to donate something that could show yourself off to the expected 350 people attending.  Just e-mail Betsy or email me if you just have an idea you want to run by me.

Help:  Besides needing donations, we are looking for a few people who feel they would be good seeking out and gathering donations.  Please e-mail Betsy ([email protected])   I will post what will be in the silent auction in May.

REMEMBER: To meet all the deadlines coming up that I listed last week. 

ILLUSTRATORS: Remember that the deadline for the logo contest is April 15th.  I hope someone is working