Million Page Mission: Now Accepting Applications
My one year old Cher has recently become obsessed with books. She has her favorites that she plops in my lap anytime I'm sitting down and takes the whole process quite seriously. Most of her books are only about 10 pages long and she makes me read them over and over. But she's quite emotional about the whole ordeal. Every time I turn a page she gets upset, seeming to know that a page turn signifies the approaching last page. As I get closer to the end, she gets more hysterical and by the time I reach the last page, she's a wailing, sobbing fit and demands I go back to the beginning. So we read a lot of books, and not many last pages.
It seemed fitting that Cher accompany me to an event last week sponsored by Lunchables and First Book. Lunchables has organized a Million Page Mission. Basically, for everyone who comits to read at least 100 pages to their child during the back-to-school season, Lunchables will donate $1 to First Book, an inspired non-profit organization that gives books to children who have none. Television actress Lori Loughlin was at the event doing a book reading to a group of school children and I got to talk with her about the Million Page Mission before the event. She's the one who played Jesse's girlfriend in Full House and is currently in the new 90210 series. Lori has children at home as well and I really enjoyed talking to her about our families and the event. I've also dedicated to work on my tan after seeing her perfectly bronzed skin. She's very sweet and the kind of person who you'd love to spend a day at the beach with.
But back to the event - I easily read 100 pages a day to Cher, but her books only have about 5 words per page so it's not too hard. I think it's a great mission, however, and was really surprised by some of the facts I learned. For example, recent studies find that only one in 300 children living in low-income areas has access to an age appropriate book. First Book is the organization dedicated to providing free books to these children. The representative from First Book who I spoke to told me about the impact that owning a book can have on these children. She said that after giving a child just three books, it is easy to measure the change in their performance at school.
I always was surrounded by books as a child and spent most of my young adulthood hidden inside a book. It's easy to take that for granted. At the event, I heard about children in Head Start pre-school programs and how in some neighborhoods, when the teachers as the child to bring in a book from home, the most common book the children bring back is a phone book - the only book in the home.
It literally takes 3 seconds to pledge to the Million Dollar Mission. For your pledge to read to your children, Lunchables will donate to help First Book get books to children. This is only going on through October 31st, so please take a moment and make your pledge. Then make sure to actually read to your kids! Those are always my favorite moments in the day.
Man, I so pale.
It seemed fitting that Cher accompany me to an event last week sponsored by Lunchables and First Book. Lunchables has organized a Million Page Mission. Basically, for everyone who comits to read at least 100 pages to their child during the back-to-school season, Lunchables will donate $1 to First Book, an inspired non-profit organization that gives books to children who have none. Television actress Lori Loughlin was at the event doing a book reading to a group of school children and I got to talk with her about the Million Page Mission before the event. She's the one who played Jesse's girlfriend in Full House and is currently in the new 90210 series. Lori has children at home as well and I really enjoyed talking to her about our families and the event. I've also dedicated to work on my tan after seeing her perfectly bronzed skin. She's very sweet and the kind of person who you'd love to spend a day at the beach with.
But back to the event - I easily read 100 pages a day to Cher, but her books only have about 5 words per page so it's not too hard. I think it's a great mission, however, and was really surprised by some of the facts I learned. For example, recent studies find that only one in 300 children living in low-income areas has access to an age appropriate book. First Book is the organization dedicated to providing free books to these children. The representative from First Book who I spoke to told me about the impact that owning a book can have on these children. She said that after giving a child just three books, it is easy to measure the change in their performance at school.
I always was surrounded by books as a child and spent most of my young adulthood hidden inside a book. It's easy to take that for granted. At the event, I heard about children in Head Start pre-school programs and how in some neighborhoods, when the teachers as the child to bring in a book from home, the most common book the children bring back is a phone book - the only book in the home.
It literally takes 3 seconds to pledge to the Million Dollar Mission. For your pledge to read to your children, Lunchables will donate to help First Book get books to children. This is only going on through October 31st, so please take a moment and make your pledge. Then make sure to actually read to your kids! Those are always my favorite moments in the day.
Man, I so pale.
Comments
(and we're not pale. we're creamy by choice! at least that's what I'm going with.)
Seriously people, if any of you have ever had a book read to you, take a sec and make your pledge so a low-income kid can have their own book.
Great cause, my girls and I are in.
BTW, thanks for the brand new post and the suggestion!
And your daughter... omg, I want to eat her!!
Ok, I'll stop being scary now.
I'm going to forward your post to some parents I know.
Cheers! :)
Great cause!
Just post a "Hello, not dead, read 600 pages to Cher and. . . that other one. . " so I can quit scouring the "Weird News" section for news :)
I was wondering if you could help me with a post I have written. I think it's a freakin hilarious idea but I dont have the word capacity like you to make it hilarious. Here is the link: http://danirun.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-candidate.html
Please let me know if you can help. I think you are a genius writer. Thanks!
Danielle
Anyway, regarding this post, I was extremely sad to learn about this predicament one day in my Kinder class. During the first week of class that year, I asked my students how many of them had books to read at home. Only THREE raised their little hands. I, of course, was stunned.
Like you, I grew up surrounded by books. In fact, I am such a super bookworm that I should blog about it. Hearing my students confirm that there were no books at home for them to read broke my heart.
After that day, I established a program to allow them to take turns bringing home a book of their choice. I had a 'special' bookbag with a Teddy Bear inside and the chosen student could read a book they liked to the bear and report the next day. They actually begged for the opportunity.
Great post!
I hate to tell you this since you obviously have your heart set on that tan, but you're way prettier than her.
Thanks,
Ashley
I hope you are happy to know that you are going to be solely responsible for me turning myself in to the Betty Boop Clinic for unrequited blogging addiction.
If I don't hear from you in three days I will be foreced to gather everyone here and hunt you down to perform an intervention on, er... well you.
Prepare to be chained to your computer until you give a full and complete report about what is going on in your life- twinkies and juice boxes will be provided for those who participate.
3 days, do you hear me??
Best wishes from jonesin Rachelle