Donate new books for babies and children at any VPFW location through October 31.
At VPFW, we are all for giving families the best start possible. According to the National Commission on Reading, the single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to/with at home, prior to beginning school.
Sadly, there’s a stark gap in the number of books low-income families have in the home compared to middle-income families: In middle-income neighborhoods, the ratio of books per child is 13 to 1; whereas in low-income neighborhoods, the ratio is only 1 age-appropriate book for every 300 children. Sixty-one percent of low-income families have NO books at all in their homes for their children.
Donate NEW Children’s Books at Any VPFW Location through October 31
With the help of VPFW patient Beth Butner, retired reading specialist and co-chair of Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother’s (CCHCM) book committee, and her provider, Dr. Shannon Brim, VPFW is holding a book drive for CCHCM at all VPFW locations through October 31. We are accepting new books only, in support of the CCHCM’s goal of giving out 3 books per child in need for the holidays.
While the greatest need is books for children birth through age 5, you can donate any children’s book up to age 10, including:
- English and bilingual (Spanish) books
- Fiction and nonfiction for birth through age 10
- Board books (touch and feel, flip the flap, skills, stories)
- Picture books
- Chapter books
See the book list below for recommendations by age group.
Amazon Wishlist – the Easiest Way to Donate
CCHCM is also accepting books from their Amazon Wishlist, which is one of the easiest ways to donate! When selecting a shipping address, please choose the Christmas Mother’s Gift Registry Address.
Recommended Book List by Age Group
Beth and her fellow retired reading specialist book committee co-chair have created a list of the types of books that are perfect for each age group.
Birth – Age 2 (Greatest Need)
- English and bilingual books
- Books with racial diversity
- Board books
- Interactive books (touch & feel, lift-the-flap, finger puppet books)
- Eric Carle books
- Basic skills (ABCs, first words, colors, shapes, numbers)
- Transportation books (trucks, trains, airplanes, cars)
- Social skills (sharing, taking turns, manners, helping others)
Ages 3 – 5 (Greatest Need)
- English and bilingual books
- Books with racial diversity
- Interactive books (touch & feel, lift-the-flap)
- Picture books with popular stories, such as:
- Curious George
- The Little Engine That Could
- Pete the Cat
- Berenstain Bears
- The Day the Crayons Quit
- Bluey
- Dora the Explorer
- Books about:
- Social skills (sharing, taking turns, manners, helping others)
- Dinosaurs
- Princesses and fairies
- Characters from popular children’s movies
- Trains and trucks
- Spider-Man and other superheroes
Ages 6 – 7
- English and bilingual books
- Books of racial diversity
- Fiction and nonfiction
- Titles and topics:
- Princesses
- Fancy Nancy
- Mia Mayhem
- Princess in Black
- Amelia Bedelia
- Spider-Man
- The Bad Guys
- Weird But True (nonfiction)
- Superheroes
Ages 8 – 10
- English and bilingual books
- Books of racial diversity
- Fiction and nonfiction
- Titles and topics:
- I Survived series
- Who Would Win? series
- National Geographic books for 8-10 age level
- Dinosaurs
- Animals (cats and dogs especially)
- Dog Man series
- Sports (especially soccer and football)
We hope you’ll consider donating and thank you for helping us support literacy among children in our community! Learn more ways to support the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother, including their Merry Links to You Golf Classic on October 7th.
To schedule a visit with a VPFW provider, call 897-2100 or request an appointment online.