It's time to put 'a book on every bed'
Writers give back
I am thrilled to announce that this year, the actor and literacy advocate LeVar Burton is supporting and endorsing the "book on every bed" tradition. As the producer and long-running host of the PBS show "Reading Rainbow," Burton has been the kindly conduit between generations of children and lifelong literacy.
"Literacy is the birthright of every human being, even in this digital age," Burton told me. "I don't care if it is in a traditional bound book or on a tablet device ... I simply want our children to read!" ("Reading Rainbow" is now available as a mobile app.)
Writer and illustrator Peter Reynolds says, "Picture books are wisdom dipped in art and words." His book "Happy Dreamer" (2017, Orchard Books), is an ideal story for parents to share with their dreamy young children. Key message? "You are good at being you!"
Spread and share literacy in your own way
Parents and caregivers can put a book on every bed in their own households; you can also help to spread the cause of literacy by generously sharing this idea in your own community. For families who celebrate through service projects, I suggest adopting a local classroom or day care center and providing a book for each child to unwrap on Christmas morning.
To learn more, and to watch an "instructional" video of me demonstrating this concept, go to childrensreadingconnection.org or my own Facebook page: facebook.com/ADickinsonDaily.
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(You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson.com. Readers may send postal mail to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or "like" her on Facebook.)
