When I was in school, I eagerly anticipated when the RIF (Reading is Fundamental, http://www.rif.org/) program was at my elementary school (Columbia Valley Gardens in Longview, WA, for the record). I definitely came from a home that appreciated books and encouraged reading from an early age. Every time there was a book club flier sent home, I was ALWAYS allowed to order books. What my $5 weekly allowance (this was the 80's after all) didn't cover, my parents always did. When orders came, I always had a tall stack of books (or a box) awaiting me. I felt bad that not every student in my class received books, and was known to share mine (for keeps!) with my peers. Despite regular book club orders, I still looked forward to receiving a free book of my choice, twice a year. It usually took me longer than most, because I pondered, thought about my choice, would literally critically analyze the pros and cons of each book. One of the ones I received was "Miss Rumphius" (pictured below). I believe it was first grade.
And then, another year, The True Story of The Three Little Pigs (also pictured below). Growing up, my favorite Disney cartoon was "The Three Little Pigs." Once I was an adult, I bought it from an eBay store IN ARABIC. Along with Aladdin and The Return of Jafar (here's the eBay store-- http://stores.ebay.com/megoods79?_trksid=p2047675.l2563 -- I highly recommend them)(These stories are highly cliched and when Aladdin came out, Queen Noor of Jordan was among those criticizing how they portrayed Arabs). When we went to Disneyland the first time when I was five, almost six (March of 1987), I bought Practical, Fiddler, and Fifer Pig stuffed animals, and on a later trip two years later, the Big, Bad Wolf stuffed animal.
I've continued that love of reading, even if my tastes have grown up considerably. Mostly. I still find some children's books (The True Story of The Three Little Pigs; The Jolly Postman; Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and its sequel, Pickles to Pittsburgh; The Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts; Everybody Poops) to be good choices for any family with kiddos. As well as ANYTHING by the author MaryAnn Kohl... her books are really awesome. My favorite has to be "Mudworks", though "Global Art" is a close second and "Preschool Art" and "Math Art" are close too, tied-for-third. They encourage free play with a hefty dose of learning and fun, and that's something I've always tried to do with my niece and nephews and the children of my friends.
In Libya, Project MyBook (an arm of The Free Generation Movement in Libya, http://fgmovement.org/projects/mybook) aims to do the same. I can definitely get passionate about something like this. If RIF can be implemented in a country the size of the U.S., then Project MyBook should be able to be implemented in a country whose entire population is less than the size of the metro area (Los Angeles) I live in.
As previously stated, I plan to donate the entire Harry Potter series in Arabic to Project MyBook. That series was infamous for increasing the joy of reading in many children, preteens, teens, young adults, adults, in the English speaking world, and for kids to be able to read it in their native language would definitely be special. I also found the first two books of The Hunger Games trilogy (in Arabic) on Amazon, as well as the Lord of the Rings trilogy on both Amazon and eBay. Consider them on the "to be donated" list as well. There's a seller in Alexandria, Egypt, that I plan to order some of the books from, and I also have friends in Lebanon and Jordan regularly checking prices and such of "hot" titles too. The one book I'm most looking for is "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" in Arabic-- but as of late, no luck. The film is available, dubbed in Arabic (from that site above).
I do plan to donate more than just preteen and older books-- but a lot of the ones for younger children are religious in nature, and quite frankly, I don't know if throwing religion at a child is the best way to encourage them to read. If it's done in a "fun" way, like this, http://www.amazon.com/Arabic-english-I-book-Electronic-Reader/dp/B0083C5B8I/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370977404&sr=8-1&keywords=fulla+book , which ties an already popular item (Fulla, "the Arab World's answer to Barbie") to a book, hey, awesome. However, if I donate anything Fulla, it'll probably end up being a fully-stocked Fulla backpack with pencils, a diary, etc., even if that would only be for ONE child, that ONE would at least feel special. And that's an important thing for every child in this world. To know that someone, somewhere, cares about them. The children of Libya have been through a lot the last two years and definitely need to know that there are Americans, Britons, Australians, Canadians, etc., that believe in their resilience and spirit.
If you've ever considered supporting any charity in any way, let this one be the one. Help Libyan children discover the same joy that children all over the world have-- the joy of reading and the love of books.
And then, another year, The True Story of The Three Little Pigs (also pictured below). Growing up, my favorite Disney cartoon was "The Three Little Pigs." Once I was an adult, I bought it from an eBay store IN ARABIC. Along with Aladdin and The Return of Jafar (here's the eBay store-- http://stores.ebay.com/megoods79?_trksid=p2047675.l2563 -- I highly recommend them)(These stories are highly cliched and when Aladdin came out, Queen Noor of Jordan was among those criticizing how they portrayed Arabs). When we went to Disneyland the first time when I was five, almost six (March of 1987), I bought Practical, Fiddler, and Fifer Pig stuffed animals, and on a later trip two years later, the Big, Bad Wolf stuffed animal.
Yes, this link is from Amazon, and yes, you can "look inside" the book at their site. I've always liked new spins on things you think you know, as well as the other side of the story.
I've continued that love of reading, even if my tastes have grown up considerably. Mostly. I still find some children's books (The True Story of The Three Little Pigs; The Jolly Postman; Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and its sequel, Pickles to Pittsburgh; The Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts; Everybody Poops) to be good choices for any family with kiddos. As well as ANYTHING by the author MaryAnn Kohl... her books are really awesome. My favorite has to be "Mudworks", though "Global Art" is a close second and "Preschool Art" and "Math Art" are close too, tied-for-third. They encourage free play with a hefty dose of learning and fun, and that's something I've always tried to do with my niece and nephews and the children of my friends.
In Libya, Project MyBook (an arm of The Free Generation Movement in Libya, http://fgmovement.org/projects/mybook) aims to do the same. I can definitely get passionate about something like this. If RIF can be implemented in a country the size of the U.S., then Project MyBook should be able to be implemented in a country whose entire population is less than the size of the metro area (Los Angeles) I live in.
As previously stated, I plan to donate the entire Harry Potter series in Arabic to Project MyBook. That series was infamous for increasing the joy of reading in many children, preteens, teens, young adults, adults, in the English speaking world, and for kids to be able to read it in their native language would definitely be special. I also found the first two books of The Hunger Games trilogy (in Arabic) on Amazon, as well as the Lord of the Rings trilogy on both Amazon and eBay. Consider them on the "to be donated" list as well. There's a seller in Alexandria, Egypt, that I plan to order some of the books from, and I also have friends in Lebanon and Jordan regularly checking prices and such of "hot" titles too. The one book I'm most looking for is "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" in Arabic-- but as of late, no luck. The film is available, dubbed in Arabic (from that site above).
I do plan to donate more than just preteen and older books-- but a lot of the ones for younger children are religious in nature, and quite frankly, I don't know if throwing religion at a child is the best way to encourage them to read. If it's done in a "fun" way, like this, http://www.amazon.com/Arabic-english-I-book-Electronic-Reader/dp/B0083C5B8I/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370977404&sr=8-1&keywords=fulla+book , which ties an already popular item (Fulla, "the Arab World's answer to Barbie") to a book, hey, awesome. However, if I donate anything Fulla, it'll probably end up being a fully-stocked Fulla backpack with pencils, a diary, etc., even if that would only be for ONE child, that ONE would at least feel special. And that's an important thing for every child in this world. To know that someone, somewhere, cares about them. The children of Libya have been through a lot the last two years and definitely need to know that there are Americans, Britons, Australians, Canadians, etc., that believe in their resilience and spirit.
If you've ever considered supporting any charity in any way, let this one be the one. Help Libyan children discover the same joy that children all over the world have-- the joy of reading and the love of books.
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