“If You Give a Child a Book” Literacy Project

The Defiance College Education division, in collaboration with Early Childhood Education (ECE) students, is hosting the second annual county-wide “If You Give a Child a Book” literature book drive. The project assists families in building an existing home library or starting a new home library. It also helps engage children and parents in reading that is fun, exciting, and educational, as well as fostering a positive attitude for the joy of reading. 

The book drive and a literacy event will help promote the importance of early literacy development and support the National Education Association’s Read Across America initiative. The children’s literature book drive donation began February 16 and concludes on March 16. The book donation drop-off locations are: Defiance Public Library, Defiance College Pilgrim Library, Northtowne Mall, Biggby Coffee, Hicksville Elementary School, Ayersville Elementary School, Tinora Elementary School, Fairview Elementary School, and Defiance Catholic School.

Books collected during the book drive will be distributed during the “If You Give a Child a Book” literacy event being held on Saturday, April 4, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Defiance College Pilgrim Library.  A letter and flyer will be given to children attending local pre-schools, childcare centers, and elementary children (Pre-K-2) enrolled in the following elementary schools: Defiance, Hicksville, Ayersville, Tinora, Fairview, and Defiance Catholic School.

The event will engage children and their parents in book readings, instructional and fun activities, and face-paintings.  Each child will receive a tote bag of donated books, a new children’s literature book, participate in book readings and create activities, and receive a resource book (created by the ECE students) of children’s literature books with teaching strategies and activities parents can use with their children. They will also receive the featured book by Laura Numeroff titled: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.  This book will be read by a special celebrity guest. 

This event will be free to parents and children. Light refreshments will be served.

To register for this event, parents may contact Dr. Sandra Golden, Assistant Professor, Defiance College, at 419.783.2412 or by email at sgolden@defiance.edu.  Registration starts on March 4 and has limited seating.

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate majors as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of engagement. U. S. News & World Report ranks Defiance in the top tier of comprehensive colleges in the Midwest. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

February 26, 2009