Donate new books for babies and children at any VPFW location through Wednesday, September 30.
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. Reading with children from the earliest years on is essential to providing the lifelong gift of literacy!
At VPFW, we are all for giving families the best start possible. That’s why we’re once again holding a baby and children’s book drive for Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother (CCHCM). Learn how you can help by donating new books at any VPFW location or via our Amazon Wishlist through Wednesday, September 30.
Literacy gaps by gender and income-level in Virginia
Sadly, there’s a stark gap in the number of books middle income families have in their homes compared to those of low-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 for their children in their homes.
CCHCM has learned a startling statistic in 2026: Virginia boys are falling behind in reading, and the gap is wider than the national average. More than half of kindergarten boys in Virginia fall below school readiness benchmarks, compared with 44% of girls. This gap continues through elementary and middle school.
With your help, we can change the course of child literacy in our area!
VPFW’s Book Drive for CCHM runs now through September 30
Thanks to VPFW patient Beth Butner, retired reading specialist and co-chair of Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother’s (CCHCM) book committee, and her VPFW provider, Dr. Shannon Brim, we’re proud to hold a book drive for CCHCM through Wednesday, September 3o at all VPFW locations and via our Amazon Wishlist.
Donate NEW children’s books at any VPFW location
You can drop off *new* baby and children’s books at the front desk of any VPFW location through Wednesday, September 30. 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 babies and children up to age 5, we’ll accept children’s books recommended for any ages 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 age-based recommendations from CCHCM’s reading specialists below.
Donate books from our Amazon Wishlist
You can also donate books the easy way—from our Amazon Wishlist! We’ve included some of our favorites as well as recommendations from CCHM’s reading specialists. When selecting a shipping address, please choose our gift registry address, which will ship directly to VPFW’s Koger Center office, and have items delivered by Wednesday, September 30.
Book recommendations by age group
Beth and her fellow book committee co-chair—also retired reading specialist—have put together some recommendations for 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)
Thank you for helping us support literacy among children in our community. We hope you’ll consider donating!
Learn more ways to support the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother, including their Merry Links to You Golf Classic on Monday, October 5, 2026.
To make an appointment with an OB/GYN provider at one of our Richmond, VA, locations, call VPFW at 804-897-2100 or message us to schedule online.