It’s time to get started, delivering book joy to the young scholars of Leading with Literacy in Chicago. Can you believe it? It’s Holiday Book Drive Chi… year EIGHT!
Last year’s Delivery Day was so much fun. Holiday Book Drive Chi partner Pastor Michael Neal of Leading with Literacy is not just a pastor serving his community. He also happens to be the chaplain of the DePaul’s Men’s Basketball Team — and he invited some players to join us in delivering books to Bronzeville schools!
The energy and excitement were electric, and I loved the messages that the players shared with students: That school and reading are gifts that prepare you for life and opportunities well beyond your grade school years.
Thanks to your help, last year we hit an incredible milestone. Since the start of the drive in 2017, together we have collected and delivered more than 5,000 books to young Chicago scholars!
How did we reach 5,000? At the outset of each drive, the prospect of repeating or exceeding the previous year’s total is a little intimidating! And then we remember how we get there…
One book, one box, at a time. From YOU!
To keep bringing incredible books into scholars’ homes and home libraries, we once again need your help — big time!
While it remains to be revealed, exactly what literacy gifts this season will bring, Pastor Neal and I have faith that many beautiful books and moments are in store. And we’d be so very honored if you’d join us in Holiday Book Drive Chi’s 8th year, by donating books or financial gifts toward the purchase of books!
In the weeks leading up to Winter Break and beyond, Leading with Literacy will deliver your donations to students in schools all over Bronzeville and other nearby Chicago neighborhoods. The books shared during Holiday Book Drive Chi don’t just bring holiday joy - Pastor Neal and his partners deliver books all year round.
Want to join the book joy in year eight? Below, you’ll find details about how Holiday Book Drive Chi works, and how you can help. We so hope you can!
How to Give
To make a donation of books or a financial gift, please EMAIL ME via my website Contact page and let me know what you plan to send. The info goes into a spreadsheet that keeps donations organized.
(I apologize that I cannot share my personal address publicly.)
Books and financial gifts are accepted from October 1 through early December. As books are donated, I’ll share them below, so you can check out what Chicago readers will be reading, and perhaps get some ideas for your home library, too!
More Book Drive Details!
We Love Books! We are excited to receive any book written for children. We do ask that the books are new and not used. Picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade and young adult titles are all welcome, and very appreciated!
The Magic Number = 30: 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 provide an entire classroom that very book - so all students can share in the same reading experience, which is the ultimate wish of our partner teachers and schools.
Publisher Partners: Authors, if you think your publisher might be interested in (and able to!) provide a complete classroom donation of 30 books, please let me know! We can provide a letter from Leading with Literacy for tax purposes.
Set Up a Team Donation: If you’d like to collect books or funds for our drive through a local club or organization - such as a troop, dance studio, basketball team, chess club, etc. - that would be amazing! 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.
Financial Gifts: 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!
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!
Follow Along: Want to know what’s going on with the drive? Visit this post often, as well as Instagram and Twitter/X. Search the hashtag #HolidayBookDriveChi for the latest donations.
Now, wiithout further ado, this year’s books!
Thank you Adam and Leslie Schulte for kicking off the drive with this entire classroom donation of…
LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS
(By various authors and illustrators)
Thank you Richard Ho and Roaring Brook Press
for sharing an entire classroom donation of your book…
A TASTE OF HOME (By Richard Ho, Illustrated by Sibu T.P., Roaring Brook Press)
Thank you Conway Familiy for sharing this entire classroom donation of…
ANIMALIA (By Graeme Base, Scholastic)
Thank you Ariel Bernstein for sharing 20 copies of your book…
YOU GO FIRST (By Ariel Bernstein, Illustrated by Marc Rosenthal, Paula Wiseman/S&S)
Thank you Laura Gehl for sharing 10 copies of your books…
THE HIKING VIKING (By Laura Gehl, Illustrated by Timothy Banks, Capstone)
WHO MADE THIS MESS? (By Laura Gehl, Illustrated by Aleksandar Stojsic, Capstone)
SNOW IS… (By Laura Gehl, Illustrated by Sonia Sánchez, Paula Wiseman / Simon & Schuster)
DONUT (By Laura Gehl, Illustrated by Andrea Zuill, Random House Studio)
APPLE AND MAGNOLIA (By Laura Gehl, Illustrated by Patricia Metola, Walker Books)
BRILLIANT BABY EXPLORES SCIENCE (By Laura Gehl, Illustrated by Jean Claude, little bee books)
ODD BIRDS (By Laura Gehl, Illustrated by Gareth Lucas, Abrams Appleseed)
Thank you Robin Newman for sharing 5 copies of your books…
WHO’S WRITING THIS STORY? (By Robin Newman, Illustrated by Deborah Zemke, Creston)
Thank you Jody Jensen Shaffer for sharing 3 copies of your books…
PORCUPINE HAD A FUZZY SWEATER
(By Jody Jensen Shaffer, Illustrated by Angela Edmonds, Magination Press)
SOMETIMES I AM HOT LAVA
(By Jody Jensen Shaffer, Illustrated by Amélie Videlo, Beaming Books)
THE LAST DAY JULIAN WAS MY BEST FRIEND
(By Jody Jensen Shaffer, Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, Two Lions)
CURRENT TOTAL:
129 BOOKS!
If you’d like to give, contact me here!
We can’t wait to see what this year’s holiday book drive brings! Thank you for being part of it!
