Thursday, November 24, 2016

Let's Turn This Painting into Books!


I have so loved hearing about schools that run mock Caldecott Awards but I have also been hearing from librarians and teachers how they struggle to buy new books. How they often supplement the classroom library out of their own pockets.

Around this time last year I held a fundraiser to send sets of 10 new picture books to schools in need.
I thought maybe there was a way of turning a drawing into a pile of new picture books. Because while there’s nothing as comforting as curling up with an old favorite, there’s something thrilling about turning the first page of a brand new one.

I was hoping to be able to fund 60 books for six schools. Thanks to your generosity we raised around $3500, which enabled us to send 200 books to 20 schools.

So! It's that time again!

Here's how it works.

This painting is for sale on eBay. It was on the cover of the Horn Book Magazine Awards Edition in June, 2016. Eagle eyes will spot Last Stop on Market Street and The Lion and the Mouse, The Snowy Day and Winnie the Pooh.


The listing is live and runs until December 3rd.
I have partnered with the wonderful bookstore, The Curious Reader, who have helped me select 10 beautiful, funny, rich, thoughtful picture books to tempt young readers.




The Airport Book - Lisa Brown
The Case for Loving - Selina Alko and Sean Qualls
Du Iz Tak? - Carson Ellis
Finding Winnie - Lindsay Mattick and Sophie Blackall
Freedom in Congo SquareCarole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie
The JourneyFrancesca Sanna
Penguin Problems - Jory John and Lane Smith
Real Cowboys - Kate Hoefler and Jonathan Bean
This is Not a Picture Book - Sergio Ruzzier
Thunder Boy Jr. - Sherman Alexie

So now I just need
a) People to bid on the drawing. Click here!
b) Librarians and teachers to enter the draw. (Which you can do by leaving your name and the name and location of your school in the comments below. Only US schools, I’m afraid.)
c)  You to help spread the word! (Please share far and wide!)

Thank you, all!

ps. If you'd like to make a separate donation, you can do so here and receive a signed print from Finding Winnie!

48 comments:

  1. Thanks for all you do to put beautiful books in the hands of children! I teach at West Mound Elementary School in Columbus, Ohio.

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  2. Jeana Voss - librarian for 2 elementary schools in Lubbock TX - Maedgen & Wolffarth

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  3. Wendy Payer, librarian at Gilbert Magnet School for Communications and Creative Arts, North Las Vegas, NV
    What a fantastic idea! Thank you for doing this!

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  4. Eric Carpenter
    Fred A. Toomer Elementary School

    We had so much fun with last year's books. You're the best!

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  5. Tara Harrison, art teacher, at CREC Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary School, Avon, CT
    So wonderful!

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  6. Tara Harrison, art teacher, at CREC Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary School, Avon, CT
    So wonderful!

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  7. Donna Macdonald, librarian at Orchard School in South Burlington, Vermont. Thank you for being so thoughtful and generous, Sophie!

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  8. Jennifer Evans, librarian at Seatack Elementary -An Achievable Dream Academy in Virginia Beach, VA. This is awesome! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  9. Lizanne Johnson, librarian at Pleasant Valley Elementary in Groton, CT. Thank you for supporting our schools!

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  10. Amy Bahena-Ettner, librarian at Nicolet Elementary School in Green Bay, WI
    This is a wonderful idea! Gracias!

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  11. Carmen Shannon, library media specialist at Discovery Elementary in Grand Forks, ND. What a wonderful idea and such great titles!

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  12. Jennifer Powers - librarian at Riverside Elementary, Shreveport, LA. Thank you for sharing your time and your talents to put books in the hands of children!

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  13. What a fabulous idea! Beth Raff, Grade 5 teacher, Auten Road Intermediate School, 281 Auten Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844

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  15. This is such a kind and wonderful gift! Narda Lugo-1st year librarian at Henry Ford Elementary in Pharr, Texas. Thank you and fingers crossed! GOD BLESS

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  16. How fun!
    Christen Higgins
    Matthews Elementary School
    200 McDowell St
    Matthews, NC 28105

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  17. This is an amazing opportunity and I appreciate the chance to bring these fantastic books to my school.
    Kristen Picone
    RJO Intermediate School
    99 Old Dock Rd.
    Kings Park, NY 11754

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  18. Belinda Rusnock
    William Penn Elementary School
    1002 Main Street
    Bethlehem PA 18018-6693
    Thank you for the chance!

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  19. Thank you for creating such a wonderful opportunity for little readers!
    Mary Hood
    Grade 1 Teacher
    Independence Elementary
    4700 South Memphis Street
    Aurora, co 80015

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  20. Ciro Scardina, Library Media Specialist
    P.S. 18-The John G. Whittier School
    221 Broadway
    Staten Island, NY 10310

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  21. Eileen Csongradi librarian at
    Visitation BVM School
    190 N Trooper Rd
    Norristown, PA. 19403

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  22. Michele McCoy
    Librarian
    Manatee Cove Elementary
    734 West Ohio Avenue
    Orange City, FL. 32763

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  23. Michele McCoy
    Librarian
    Manatee Cove Elementary
    734 West Ohio Avenue
    Orange City, FL. 32763

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  24. Starla Hazen
    Librarian
    Russell Street School
    57 Russell Street
    Littleton, MA 01460

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  25. Amanda Davis
    Librarian
    9100 Blackhawk
    Houston, TX 77075

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  26. Melissa Cody, Library Media Specialist
    PS/IS 295
    222-14 Jamaica Ave.
    Queens Village, NY 11428

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  27. Diane Jensen
    Librarian
    Eagle Cliffs Elementary
    1201 Kootenai
    Billings, MT 59105

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  28. Ilse O'Brien
    Wilson School
    22 Rutledge Road
    Natick, Ma 01760
    A wonderful idea! Thank you for doing this.

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  29. You have a heart of gold, thanks!
    Rita Espinoza Painter
    Co-Librarian
    Menchaca Elementary
    Austin, TX

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  30. You are so wonderful! Thank you for understanding how we supplement our library selection to keep our students excited about reading!
    Rochelle Menendez
    Librarian
    Cannaday Elementary School
    Mesquite, TX

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  31. Kristan Neeb, Librarian
    Jefferson Elementary and Cunningham Elementary
    Wichita Falls, TX

    My students would be so excited to win!

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  32. Marcia Rhinehart
    Sturgeon R-V Elementary/Middle School
    210 W. Patton
    Sturgeon, MO

    My students and teachers would be so excited to win this package of books.

    Thank you for the opportunity.

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  33. Shannon Dole, 2nd grade, Grundy Center Elementary, Grundy Center, Iowa

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  34. Rachael Funk
    Library Media Specialist
    Stafford Elementary School
    11 Levinthal Run
    Stafford Springs, CT 06076

    All of my 2nd through 5th graders know that the E of the call number on picture books in the library stands for "Everybody" because picture books should be universally read!

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  35. What a wonderful idea! You are so lovely. Thank you for helping to supplement our library collections.

    Kristen Frost
    Librarian
    St.Bernard School
    Enfield, CT 06082

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  36. Rachel Oard
    Orvis Risner Elementary
    Edmond, OK 73013

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  37. Bettie McGinness, Dr. Debbie Emery Elementary School, 19636 Plantation Myrtles Dr., Katy, Tx, 77449

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  38. Barbara Gomon
    Librarian at Daffron Elementary
    Plano, Texas

    Wonderful idea!



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  39. Katrina Hall
    Serene Lake Elementary
    4709 Picnic Point Rd.
    Edmonds, WA 98026
    Thank you!!!

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  40. Thank you for getting new books in the hands of kids! Paula Ruedebusch, Reading Specialist at JFK Elementary in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where it's cold and winter-y!

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  41. Thank you for making ways for kids to get their hands on new books!

    Heather Alexander, Librarian at Crestview Elementary School in Springfield, TN.

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  42. Thank you for such a generous gift to students!

    Sylvia Koehly
    Teacher-Librarian
    Woodland Elementary School
    Lacey, WA

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  43. So cool!

    Karen Firstbrook
    Librarian
    Cerra Vista Elementary School
    Hollister, CA

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  44. Thank you for everything you are doing!
    Christy Kanine
    Media Aide
    Central Elementary School
    Petoskey, MI

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  45. Awesome list of books! Thank you for introducing us to such great titles.

    Larnette Snow
    St. Paul School (public)
    231 Flower Gap Rd
    Cana, VA 24317

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  46. Thank you for your generosity!

    Katherine Hlousek
    Librarian
    Emiliano Zapata Academy
    2728 S. Kostner Ave.
    Chicago, IL 60623

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  47. Tanisha Copas
    Librarian
    Westmoreland Elementary School
    4178 Hawkins Drive
    Westmoreland, TN 37186

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  48. Thank you for your efforts
    Mari-Daphne Kazanis
    Cicely Tyson Elementary School
    45 N. Arlington Ave
    East Orange, NJ 07017

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