The foundation of Turning the Page’s programming is built on using children’s books and reading to engage parents and families in innovative ways. We incorporate books into all of our programming – Community Nights, Parent Leadership Conferences, even Summer Learning Experiences. Every participant at a Turning the Page event leaves with a brand new, free, high-quality book. But what happens when a pandemic takes over and we no longer have in-person events?
Distributing Books Safely
Earlier this month we were able to hold our very first book distribution day in both Washington DC and Chicago, distributing 448 books to 67 families! In Chicago, TTP staff set up individualized packages of books for our families to pick up at pre-arranged time slots. We were all able to maintain social distance at our headquarters in the Nichols Tower parking lot, requiring masks, and providing hand sanitizer for anyone who needed some. We also offered contact-less delivery for families that were not able to select the pick-up option.
In DC, the threat of rain kept in-person pick-ups from happening, but didn’t stop a strong delivery across Southeast neighborhoods. One parent was excited to see Diary of A Wimpy Kid and Junie B Jones books in the packet to add to her daughter’s summer reading list. A former teacher from King Elementary mentioned these were the first new texts her son would be receiving in the COVID era. The day after our book deliveries, one DC Parent sent a text to TTP Staff:
“Morning! I’m reaching out to let you know how excited my preschoolers were to come home to a surprise package and every colorful book they were excited to have me read! We sat up all night reading and enjoying the books! You all are appreciated for sending the books! Thank you!”
All around, it was a great afternoon for re-connecting and ensuring students had their hands on some amazing reads!
Building Home Libraries
Turning the Page believes that building home libraries is critical for student success. Even moreso, we do our best to make sure parents and students receive books that reflect their own lives and communities.
Numerous studies show the positive effects of home libraries. Children raised in homes with more than 500 books spent three years longer in school than children whose parents had only a few books. A 2010 study published in Research in Social Stratification and Mobility found that growing up in a household with 500 or more books is “as great an advantage as having university-educated rather than unschooled parents, and twice the advantage of having a professional rather than an unskilled father.” Another study from 2001 reported that “Children in middle-income neighborhoods had multiple opportunities to observe, use, and purchase books (approximately 13 titles per child); few opportunities were available for low-income children who, in contrast, had approximately one title per 300 children.”
The new school year will look very different in communities across the country. Regardless of where learning is taking place, we look forward to continuing to distribute brand-new, interesting, exciting, and engaging books into the hands of the families we work with.
Want to support building family home libraries? There are three ways you can help: order a grab-bag of #CuratedByCarpeLibrum books, now delivering nationwide; purchase a gift card to use at a future Carpe Librum pop-up or store; make a donation through our website.