Friday, August 28, 2009

What Book Got You Hooked?


It’s that time of the year, getting ready to go back to school! Parents are running around with the "List" of things to get their children. Last week, a friend of mine and I were just talking about the smells that take us back in-the-day to getting ready for the start of school: #2 pencils, pink erasers, protractors, pencil-cases, cartoon lunch boxes, army school bags and brown paper to cover our books.

A couple of the differences today is the cartoon characters on lunch boxes and school bags. The size of school bags is amazing to me. I remember some classmates didn't even carry a school bag (it wasn't cool) let alone taking books home. But just for today, let's talk about books.

Regardless of the subject and characters of books that have changed over the years, kids really do love to read and most have a favorite book. I did! The book was called "Katie" by who?? Don't ask too many years ago. Did you have a favorite book? If so, FirstBook wants to know. FirstBook is doing a campaign on the book that got you hooked on reading. Their "What Book Got You Hooked?" on reading campaign is helping address the concern of illiteracy in our nation. They want you share your favorite book memory with them and then vote on which state you would like to receive 50,000 new books for low income children. You can also see the favorite books of their celebrity-supporters like Ed Asner, Steve Colbert (luv him!), Morgan Freeman, Patti LaBelle (love her!), Scarlett Johansson and others.

I challenge small business owners to consider this campaign and join the campaign today. Make it a business-wide giving back effort. It can be fun and the more people involved, the more votes, the larger the campaign.

Go to http://www.firstbook.org/, share what book got you hooked on reading, and vote!