Who gets the books?
The main groups of children that get the books are those living in low-income areas, those whose families may just be learning English, and those undergoing stressful life situations such as those in transitional or foster care as well as those in hospitals and shelters. We primarily reach them by distributing books at schools and doctors’ offices. We also get books to children attending doctor or dentist visits in low-income areas, community-based programs such as The Boys and Girls Clubs and faith-based organizations such as churches or synagogues.
Our primary focus is to give children books, often their first book. We also support Family Literacy and have started libraries in adult school settings to assist parents learning English for the first time. We include both adult and children’s books in such settings to enable adults to read to children as they learn. How are you different from other literacy programs? Our strength and focus is getting books to children and providing that “spark” that comes with receiving a book from a positive role model. Our first books were given in response to a Sacramento Pediatrician that wanted to provide books to parents and children at medical office visits. While there are established programs that provide books at well-child visits only, Book Buddies provides books at any visit, sick or well. We found that this flexibility provided the greatest opportunity for medical providers to encourage reading to babies and children. In addition, children accompanying a sibling or parent to a visit were also given books and encouraged to read themselves or read to siblings. We have found that encouraging sibling-reading is a highly effective way to introduce books into the home. Better literacy leads to better health. We also link to established ongoing reading and literacy efforts through classroom promotions that support the teacher’s existing plan, linking to community-based reading programs that include reading to children but do not typically provide them with free books to take home. We provide positive and inspiring role models from the community, sports figures, or celebrities interested in reading to children. Finally, we link with organizations that get school-related supplies, like backpacks, to underserved children. We add a fun book to that backpack so children embrace reading. Book BuddiesTM has donated over 800,000 books to children and families to help promote literacy Dated 2.28.08
Call (562) 490-3956
Book Buddies
Signal Hill,
