Holiday Book Drive Chi is back for year six!
I am thrilled and honored to be partnering with Pastor Michael Neal of Leading with Literacy again this fall and winter to deliver book joy to young readers!
In 2021, literacy supporters across the country donated more books than ever before - 828 titles! - which brought us over the 3,000 mark for total books collected since the start of the drive:
2017: 408 books
2018: 433 books
2019: 623 books
2020: 728 books
2021: 828 books
That’s 3,020 books in all!
What will this year bring? Can we reach 1,000 titles in 2022?
Pastor Neal and I would LOVE to deliver as many beautiful books into Bronzeville schools and home libraries as possible this season —
— and we are off to an extraordinary start, thanks to the help of author Pat Zietlow Miller! Pat, a longtime friend of #HolidayBookDriveChi, has sent not one… but TWO full class donations of two of her 2022 releases! What an incredible kick-off for Holiday Book Drive Chi year six!
Friends, you’ve been incredible. The best. Can we do it again?
Holiday Book Drive Chi is officially open for donations!
Below, you’ll find how you can be a part of this year’s effort. If you’d like to collaborate, EMAIL ME via my Contact page. We so hope you will join us!
Books, Please! We are excited to receive any book written for children. We do ask that the books are new, not used. Picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade and young adult titles - are all welcome, and very appreciated!
The Magic Number: Any single book donation is celebrated. But if you have the ability to join forces with a friend (or friends) and donate 30 copies of the same book, you’ll be able to give an entire classroom the SAME book, which is a truly amazing gift.
Pssst! Authors… If you think your publisher might be able to provide a complete classroom donation of 30 books, please let me know!
Shouting It Out! I celebrate all book donations as I receive them, on social media and on my website, too. Sharing these special deliveries is one of my favorite things to do!
Special Collections: If you are planning a local giving initiative this holiday season, consider asking friends and family to donate a book for a Bronzeville scholar. If you’re interested in organizing something like this, let me know and we can chat logistics.
Title Ideas: I’m happy to share book recommendations at any time, if you’re not sure which book or books to give. (Diverse books are always greatly appreciated by Leading with Literacy.)
Or… If You’d Rather: Financial donations are most welcome, too! I combine financial gifts and place orders for full-class donations through Scholastic. Great deals to be had there!
Follow Along: Want to know what’s going on with the drive? Visit Twitter and search the hashtag #HolidayBookDriveChi for the latest!
Donations will be accepted through Dec. 1, 2022. On Delivery Day - set for Dec. 15 - we will bring your donations to schools all over Bronzeville and other nearby Chicago neighborhoods to share the gift of literacy. Thank you for your friendship and partnership. Let’s make this a holiday full of JOY again in 2022!
Below, you’ll find all of the books donated for Holiday Book Drive 2022, so far:
Thank you Pat Zietlow Miller for kicking off the drive with an entire classroom donation of…
IN OUR GARDEN
(By Pat Zietlow Miller, Illustrated by Melissa Crowton, G. P. Putnam’s Sons)
Thank you Pat Zietlow Miller for also sharing an entire classroom donation of…
SEE YOU SOMEDAY SOON
(By Pat Zietlow Miller, Illustrated by Suzy Lee, Roaring Brook Press)
Thank you Debra Kempf Shumaker and Running Press Kids for sharing an entire classroom donation of…
PECULIAR PRIMATES
(By Debra Kempf Shumaker, Illustrated by Claire Powell, Running Press Kids)
Thank you Bradley family for sharing an entire classroom donation of…
HARBOR ME
(By Jacqueline Woodson, Puffin)
Thank you Lenert family for sharing an entire classroom donation of…
DRAGONS IN A BAG
(By Zetta Elliott, Random House Kids)
Thank you Campbell, Yarnell and Rowe families for sharing an entire classroom donation of…
TY’S TRAVELS: ALL ABOARD!
(By Kelly Starling Lyons, Illustrated by Nina Mata, HarperCollins)
Thank you Conway family for sharing an entire classroom donation of…
DAISY COMES HOME
(By Jan Brett, Puffin)
Thank you Jenna Johnson for sharing an entire classroom donation of…
IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AND I’M IN MY BATHING SUIT
(By Justin A. Reynolds, Scholastic)
Thank you Beth Anderson for sharing an entire classroom donation of your picture book…
FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE
(By Beth Anderson, Illustrated by Caroline Hamel, Kids Can Press)
Thank you Two Lions for donating two full-class donations of your books…
A CHRISTMAS TOO BIG
(By Colleen Madden)
ROSIE THE DRAGON AND CHARLIE SAY GOOD NIGHT
(By Lauren H. Kerstein, Illustrated by Nate Wragg)
I AM ABLE TO SHINE
(By Korey Watari, Illustrated by Mike Wu)
ANNI DREAMS OF BIRYANI
(By Namita Moolani Mehra, Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat)
THE BEST GIFT FOR BEAR
(By Jennifer A. Bell)
And…
DANCING WITH DADDY
(By Anitra Rowe Schulte, Illustrated by Ziyue Chen)
I AM YOU: A BOOK ABOUT UBUNTU
(By Refiloe Moahloli, Illustrated by Zinelda McDonald)
PRUETT AND SOO
(By Nancy Viau, Illustrated by Jorge Lacera)
Thank you Katey Howes and The Innovation Press for sharing an entire classroom donation of…
A POEM GROWS INSIDE YOU
(By Katey Howes, Illustrated by Heather Brockton Lee, The Innovation Press)
Thank you Annelouise Mahoney for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
JULIUS AND MACY: A VERY BRAVE NIGHT
(By Annelouise Mahoney, Two Lions)
Thank you Becky Scharnhorst and family for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
MY SCHOOL STINKS!
(By Becky Scharnhorst, Illustrated by Julia Patton, Philomel)
Thank you Rosie J. Pova and Yeehoo Press for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
THE SCHOOL OF FAILURE
(By Rosie J. Pova, Illustrated by Monika Filipina, Yeehoo Press)
Thank you Yeehoo Press for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
CHAMELEON CAN BE
(By Carolina Farías, Yeehoo Press)
Thank you Yeehoo Press for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
PIPER AND PURPA FOREVER
(By Susan Lendroth, Illustrated by Olivia Feng, Yeehoo Press)
Thank you Yeehoo Press for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
CEDRIC’S TAIL
(By Amani Uduman, Illustrated by Agnès Ernoult, Yeehoo Press)
Thank you Yeehoo Press for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
WHEN I’M NOT LOOKING
(By Farren Phillips, Yeehoo Press)
Thank you Yeehoo Press for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
DODOS ARE NOT EXTINCT!
(By Paddy Donnelly, Yeehoo Press)
Thank you Yeehoo Press for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
THE PERFECT PARTY
(By Laurel P. Jackson, Illustrated by Hèléne Baum-Owoyele, Yeehoo Press)
Thank you Yeehoo Press for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
MILO’S MOONLIGHT MISSION
(By Kathleen M. Blasi, Illustrated by Petronela Dostalova, Yeehoo Press)
Thank you Yeehoo Press for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
MY MONSTERPIECE
(By Amalia Hoffman, Yeehoo Press)
Thank you Yeehoo Press for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
MASHA MUNCHING
(By Amalia Hoffman, Yeehoo Press)
Thank you Dinslage family for sharing an entire classroom donation of…
SIMON B. RHYMIN’
(By Dwayne Reed, Scholastic)
Thank you Brandon Todd for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
TOU-CAN’T!
(By Brandon Todd, Philomel)
Thank you Brittany J. Thurman and Atheneum / Caitlyn Dlouhy Books for sharing
an entire classroom donation of your book…
FLY
(By Brittany J. Thurman, Illustrated by Anna Cunha, Atheneum / Caitlyn Dlouhy Books)
Thank you Becky Scharnhorst and family for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
THIS FIELD TRIP STINKS!
(By Becky Scharnhorst, Illustrated by Julia Patton, Philomel)
Thank you Solonge Robinson for donating 40 copies of your books…
DON’T RUN FROM THE SUN
WHEN THE SUN COME UP AND THE MOON GOES DOWN
and
WHEN THE MOON COMES UP AND THE SUN GOES DOWN
(By Solonge Robinson and Aquabah Gonney-Buckner, ASA Books)
Thank you friends of Leading with Literacy for sharing two entire classroom donations…
18 DAYS UNDERGROUND (By Joanne Mattern, Scholastic)
and
FOXCRAFT: THE TAKEN (By Inbali Iserles, Scholastic)
Thank you Clothilde Ewing and Dow and Schaper families for sharing 25 copies of…
STELLA KEEPS THE SUN UP
(By Clothilde Ewing, Illustrated by Lynn Gaines, Denene Millner Books / Simon & Schuster)
Thank you Theresa A. Smith-Hickman and the Dinslage family for sharing 20 copies of…
I CAN… JUST TRY!
(By Theresa A. Smith-Hickman, Illustrated by Tyrus Goshay, Tgosketch Press)
Thank you NoNieqa Ramos for sharing 12 copies of your books…
THE TRUTH IS
(By NoNieqa Ramos, Carolrhoda Lab)
HAIR STORY
(By NoNieqa Ramos, Illustrated by Keisha Morris, Carolrhoda Books)
Thank you Elizabeth Gilbert Bedia for sharing 10 copies of your book…
DIPLODOCUS FINDS ITS FAMILY
(By Marie Bollmann and Elizabeth Gilbert Bedia, DK / Penguin Random House)
Thank you Lauren H. Kerstein for sharing 10 copies of your book…
HOME FOR A WHILE
(By Lauren H. Kerstein, Illustrated by Natalia Moore, Magination Press)
Thank you Cynthia Harmony for sharing 6 copies of your book…
MI CIUDAD SINGS
(By Cynthia Harmony, Illustrated by Teresa Martínez, Penguin Workshop)
Thank you Michelle Schaub for donating six copies of your books…
FINDING TREASURE: A COLLECTION OF COLLECTIONS
(By Michelle Schaub, Illustrated by Carmen Saldaña, Charlesbridge)
KINDNESS IS A KITE STRING: THE UPLIFTING POWER OF EMPATHY
(By Michelle Schaub, Illustrated by Claire LaForte, Cardinal Rule Press)
Thank you Valerie Bolling and Boyds Mills Press for sharing a copy of your book…
LET’S DANCE!
(By Valerie Bolling, Illustrated by Maine Diaz, Boyds Mills Press)
Thank you Monica Acker for sharing a copy of your book…
BRAVE LIKE MOM
(By Monica Acker, Illustrated by Paran Kim, Beaming Books)
CURRENT TOTAL:
1,103 BOOKS
Thank you for being a part of delivering book joy to young scholars!
We can’t wait to see what this year’s holiday book drive brings!
