A Book in Every Child’s Hand

CHEERS! from County Kids Reads to all those who helped with a successful book drive donating 800 -1000 books.
The Written Word Committee of the Prince Edward County Arts Council CHEERS! Andrea and Jeff Marshall and the staff of Canadian Tire, The Prince Edward County libraries, Picton United Church, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, the Salvation Army, St Mary Magdalene Church and all of the people in the County who donated books.
The Committee is busy sorting and distributing the books to various locations in the County where families and children can choose a free book to read and call their own.
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Nancy Puddy, a member of the Prince Edward Arts Council's Written Word Committee, delivered a tote of books to the Children's Aid Society office for the new County Kids Read Project. Accepting the delivery are Tina Waite, Child In Care Support Worker and Angie Whalen, Child Protection Worker.

County doctors will soon write out ‘prescriptions to read’ for 18-month-old patients attending their Well Baby Visit.
A Book in Every Child’s Hand – an initiative by the Written Word Committee, Prince Edward County Arts Council has launched two literacy projects – The Prescription to Read Project and The Children’s Book Bank Project.

The Prescription To Read Project uses the medical community to promote literacy. At 18 months of age, each child must have a check up and vaccination. This mandatory visit to the doctor is called The Well Baby Visit. At this check up, the doctor will give each family a book and will write out a Prescription to Read.
The board book purchased for this project is “Goodnight Moon”.
Goodnight Moon is a short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit preparing for – or attempting to postpone – his own slumber. He says goodnight to every object in sight and within earshot, including the “quiet old lady whispering hush.”
The Prescription to Read Project is to be up and running in several County doctor’s offices by March 2011.

The Children’s Book Bank Project, now under way, is designed to support children’s literacy by providing free books to the children and youth in Prince Edward County.
Book Bins containing new/gently used books (collected and had donated from the community) will be placed at various locations throughout The County. When children/families visit one of these locations, they will be encouraged to choose a free book to read, enjoy and to call their own.
Locations for the book bins to date include:
The Prince  Edward County Children’s Aid Society
The Wellington Food Bank
The Picton Food Bank
The Community Centre at the ROC
The emergency department of PECMH and several doctor’s offices in The County.
For more information about these projects, please contact Anne Preston: anne.preston@gmail.com or
Andrew McLuhan: ideasynch@yahoo.ca

The Prince Edward Arts Council’s Written Word Committee presents the launch of The County Reads 2011 with the announcement of two events:

The County Reads 2011 kicks-off  at Books and Company, 289 Main Street, Picton on April 17th from 1:30-3 p.m. During this event, the presenters and their books will be announced and introduced in anticipation of the main event.

The County Reads debate will take place May 14th, 2011 from 3:30-5 p.m. at Books and Company, 289 Main Street, Picton. This fun, free event will close this year’s Authors Festival. All are welcome to attend this light-hearted, if spirited, debate.

For more information on The Written Word Committee, The County Reads event, or any of our other community initiatives, contact:
Anne Preston <anne.preston@gmail.com>
Andrew McLuhan <ideasynch@yahoo.ca>