Thursday, December 22, 2016

The Gift of Reading

A reminder.



The final installment of The 2016 Infomaniac Book Challenge will take place in early January. That's when we'll be asking you which books you read during the months of November and December.

We hope you find a good book under your tree this holiday season.

Or why not give the gift of reading? Donate to or enroll a child at no cost in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library; a book gifting program for children from birth to age five.


She'd rather be remembered for books than boobs.

Dolly's nonprofit, early childhood literacy program sends an age-appropriate, free book each month to children from newborn to age 5 in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. Dolly created this program to foster a love of reading and learning among preschool children and their families. With your help, every child in every community can be given this precious gift of reading that continues to give throughout their entire life.

Or considering volunteering or donating money to any of these many literacy and book charities.

The consequences of illiteracy are harmful so let's help transform lives and build a world where everyone can read.

15 comments:

  1. the consequences of illiteracy?

    that must be the theme of the upcoming january 20th party. i'm sure the decorations, clothes, goodies and attendees will reflect the theme perfectly!

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    1. NORMA: Perfect theme choice for the inauguration party.

      However, I hope to be hung over from celebrating Dolly’s 71st birthday, the day before.

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  2. I'm all for encouraging reading and discussion of books.Growing up with books and having no censorship on what I read is something I am grateful for.
    Happy bookish Christmas to you, MJ and to all your readers

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    1. DINAHMOW: You were a fortunate child, as was I.

      A happy bookish Christmas to you, too.

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  3. Thanks for the wonderful info! I didn't think it was possible, but Dolly Parton just became more fabulous now that you've made me aware of her fantastic literacy foundation. I'm down for supporting her efforts. I've already bought books as gifts to the kids in my life. I want to encourage them to keep reading and explore new worlds.

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    1. EROS: Bravo! Some of my favourite memories involve my relatives reading to me and/or giving me good books.

      You will create those same memories for the kids you know and give them a “leg up” in life.

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  4. According to what I read there are 7,5 mio people in Germany who fall in the category "functional analphabets". "Functional" means that they can write and recognise their name and single words, but reading a sentence or a whole text is out of reach. 4% of the total population are analphabetic in the strict sense, without the ability to read ; not because of illness or handicap, but because they never learned, fell through the system.
    Who knew that Dolly Parton was so philanthropic ? Me surely not.

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    1. MAGO: Parton came from real poverty, growing up with eleven siblings and a father who couldn’t read or write in the middle of one of the poorest regions in the United States. She never forgot where she came from.

      In addition to her efforts to support literacy, Dolly has worked to raise money for HIV/AIDS and several other causes.

      Her efforts to preserve the bald eagle earned her the Partnership Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

      Dolly’s “My People Fund” has promised a $1,000 donation each month, for up to six months, for every family left homeless by the recent fires in Tennessee. So far it’s brought in about 9 million dollars.

      Though many of her charitable contributions are anonymous, Parton has used her success to give back to her community by providing scholarships for children, donating thousands of dollars to hospitals, and providing technology and supplies for classrooms.

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  5. I was impressed when I read about Dolly's love of books.... but now I have a yearning to make that book tree.... I have all these unread books that need to be put to use.....
    Sx

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    1. MISS SCARLET: Your new dog might treat the tree as a fire hydrant.

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  6. That is why Dolly made a trip to the unlikeliest of places, the Yorkshire shithole that is Rotherham - though the local council's recent decision probably means she'll never go there again... Jx

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    1. JON: Rotherham council members could benefit from a literacy programme.

      Note the spelling in their decision statement: "fout years" instead of "four years."

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    2. JON: Remind me never to hail a cab in Rotherham.

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    3. If you do, be sure to make your destination somewhere else. In fact, anywhere else. Jx

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