One book at a time, one child at a time, books make a difference. Every time a child is given a book, from birth to age 19, a door is opened. Give a baby a board book and she discovers the concept of a book: an object with pages to turn, pictures to look at, objects to identify, colors to name, another baby’s expression to mimic, words to hear, the rhythm of language to listen to, and shared time with an adult (or older sibling!)
Give a preschooler a book and he follows the story eagerly, pointing out details in the pictures, anticipating what happens next, identifying with the characters and wanting to “read” more and more books.
Give an older child a book and watch her immerse herself in the plot and characters, galloping through the first “Harry Potter,” discovering “The Mouse and the Motorcycle,” or exploring the past and the future through history, science fiction, and nonfiction.
YOU can make a difference in the life of a child. YOU can improve the likelihood that a young one will arrive at school ready to read and ready to learn or that an older child will become a better reader, leading to success in school and in life. Donate a new or gently used children’s book to the Storytelling Guild’s Pass the Book program. Collection crates will be available through the month of January at all 15 Jackson County Libraries.
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, including foster children, Kids Unlimited, Head Start, Juvenile Detention, the Magdalene Home, Community Health Centers, the Children’s Advocacy Center, OnTrack, and the Dunn House
The Storytelling Guild is a group of volunteers dedicated to serving the community by providing opportunities for children to be exposed to the magic of books and the joy of reading. “Pass the Book” is just one of their programs. They also present an annual “Book Walk” fashion show of books to 3rd-graders, present a weekly preschool storytime at the Medford Library Wednesdays at 11:30am., sponsor a free show at the Craterian each January, provide 24 hour access to Dial-a-Story at 541-774-6439 in English and Spanish, and provide a scholarship to an RCC student passionate about early literacy and/or early childhood education. The Storytelling Guild is best known for the annual Children’s Festival. Planning has already begun for the 49th Children’s Festival at the Britt Grounds in Jacksonville on July 11, 12, and 13, 2015. More information about the Storytelling Guild is available at www.storytellingguild.org or contact Anne Billeter at annebilleteroregon@gmail.com.