Want to make a difference in the life of a child? YOU can improve the likelihood that a youngster will arrive at school ready to read and learn, or that an older child will become a better reader, leading to greater self-esteem and future success. Donate a children’s book that you and your child loved to read (new or gently used) to The Storytelling Guild’s Pass the Book program. Collection crates will be available throughout the month of January 2016 at all Jackson County Libraries and at the Tears of Joy puppet show. (see below)

The Storytelling Guild distributes between 5,000 and 10,000 books each year to more than 25 agencies who work with children from newborns to older teens–agencies like Kids Unlimited, Head Start, Juvenile Detention, Community Health Centers, the Children’s Advocacy Center, OnTrack, Dunn House and others.

The Storytelling Guild is a group of volunteers committed to serving the community. Through its many programs, it provides opportunities for children to be exposed to the magic of story and the joy of reading. Pass the Book is one of those programs. Among others is sponsorship of an annual puppet show for children, presented by Portland-based Tears of Joy puppet troupe in the Craterian Theater at the Collier Center (free to all children and their families.) You may also recognize Storytelling Guild members as the presenters of the weekly Wednesday morning storytime for preschoolers at the Medford Library.

Finally, each July, at the annual Children’s Festival, you and 6,000 to 8,000 other Rogue Valley residents wander the hill at Britt, getting your faces painted, creating handicraft masterpieces and reveling in debut performances of future stars of stage and screen. The 50th anniversary (2016) of this magnificent event, as always, will be produced entirely by skilled volunteers recruited by the Storytelling Guild.

The Storytelling Guild is an invaluable Rogue Valley resource. Don’t pass up this opportunity to support the Guild and it’s varied programs by donating a new or gently used children’s book to Pass the Book at the Tears of Joy puppet show at the Craterian (Sunday, February 21, 2016 at 4:00 and 6:30 pm) or at any Jackson County Library throughout the month of January 2016.

For more information, email Anne Billeter: annebilleteroregon@gmail.com