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.


Comments

Nancy Sabina said…
Did you shower that morning? Lori looks a little bit like she's about to fall off her chair trying to get away from you!

(and we're not pale. we're creamy by choice! at least that's what I'm going with.)
Sarah said…
good point - I never shower. But Lori was a trouper and gave me a nice big smile anyways ;)

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.
Nancy Ross said…
When my oldest (now 17 months) was younger, we read several books a day. Now, she's going through a phase where she doesn't have patience for my sequential reading of the pages. She prefers to look at the pages in *her* order.
Spike said…
no way. pale is the new tan. 30 years from now, you'll be smugly basking in your own emphemeral whiteness, while all those hollywood starlits are trying to stave off melanoma.
Shiloh said…
I agree with Spike-- skin cancer isn't cool anymore. And how cool you got to meet a real Full House starlett!!! ;) Great Cause. And Cher is so cute! :)
Clyde said…
I love the sequence of the smiley faces in both pictures.

Great cause, my girls and I are in.

BTW, thanks for the brand new post and the suggestion!
Unknown said…
Your hair looks marvelous. Just saying.
Perla said…
you look absolutely lovely, hollywood, as you get your celebrity on again. nice job. and i will go sign up right now. i am all over this!
Lisa Loo said…
I had no idea it was like this for some children--thanx so much for sharing this info--we signed up!
Kristin said…
Hey, I haven't been here in a bit and I am LOVING your hair... it looks fabulous!

And your daughter... omg, I want to eat her!!

Ok, I'll stop being scary now.
Anonymous said…
OMG Great pics!

I'm going to forward your post to some parents I know.

Cheers! :)
Kelly said…
From one pasty white girl to another...I think you look great! Besides, don't waste your time at a tanning bed. I'd bet you anything that is a tan in a bottle.
Em-Cat said…
I just came across your blog...I didn't want to die, so I thought I'd better comment. I'm prego with my first and have already acquired quite a few books...thanks for the reminder that I need to start reading to him young.
Seeker said…
My mother read "Charlotte's Web" to me when I was about 4. When we finished the second to last chapter I snuck out of bed and hid the book. I didn't want it to end. So we started another book and I kept doing the same thing, just before the last chapter I'd hide it. Boy did I throw a FIT when my mom found them! I still remember the totally confused look on her face. It took awhile for me to calm down and tell her why they were hidden.
Neurotic Mom said…
I read to my kids every day and they love it.
Lisa Loo said…
Not sure exactly where to post this--but received the critters--they are fabulous!! We seperated the llama and beaver immediately and so far all is quiet. My 15 year old daughter has claimed the beagle so I might have to purchase another one of these days! Thanx again
Boy Mom said…
Hollywood, you amaze me, you totally live up to your name. I would have thought you were the starlett, with your very own spotlight (which explains the complexion) and the uber trendy darling tot.
b. said…
I thought that was Maria Shriver!

Great cause!
Janell said…
Hollywood, have you been suffocated under a pile of flaky friends, but your body has yet to be discovered because the rescue workers keep getting distracted by the cuteness (and weirdness) of your creations?

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 :)
Janell said…
PS. I hope you're just busy and not dead.
Anonymous said…
i just search for people. and i found this blog. this is a nice blog.
Unknown said…
Wat up, Hollywood? Lori is so lucky! She looks just like me!
Dani said…
Sarah,

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
Dani said…
http://danirun.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-candidate.html
Snarky Belle said…
Just found your blog, and I love it. You are hilarious. Thanks for the information on Million Page Mission, going to sign up right now.
Awesome cause - we're in!
chattypatra said…
Hey, Sarah! Long time no see. I seriously need to start keeping in touch with people other than the ones I see frequently.

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!
Th. said…
.

I hate to tell you this since you obviously have your heart set on that tan, but you're way prettier than her.
Unknown said…
So, uh... What the heck happened here, Maria Chiquita? We're creeping up on the 2 month mark.
Are you doing okay? Why no posts for so long?
Anonymous said…
Hello, I've been trying to get in touch with you about your BlogHer Ads. Will you please email me at Ashley@blogher.com.

Thanks,
Ashley
Anonymous said…
get a life.
Rachelle said…
Hollywood I think you should know that I am going through severe withdrawals here.
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
frolicnfibers said…
Looks like a great cause. I didn't know about it before so now I'm clicking on their link! Cher is adorable...as always!
Anonymous said…
i loved being read to as a child. my parents had trouble getting me to focus long enough to read by myself, but once i finally started i couldn't stop. now i love reading. and i still have troubles with time management.
Anonymous said…
Very good!
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