Book Buddies
Book Buddies mentors assist students to become lifelong learners.
In collaboration with the classroom teacher, committee members volunteer to read virtually or in classrooms on a one-to-one basis or to read to classroom reading groups. They may choose to read in a class where they have a grandchild or in a neighborhood school close to them.
Our Mission
Our mission is to foster a lifelong love of reading in children while planting the seeds of volunteerism in young hearts and minds, empowering them to grow into compassionate, engaged members of their communities.
Book Buddies has been the recipient of several grants to purchase new books to be given to students. A Scholastic K-2 Book Grant, for example, provided 400 books for K-2 students in classes where volunteers read books. Our philanthropy Sneakers for Military Preschoolers shared 33 zoo books for volunteers to read to classes and leave behind for future student enjoyment.
Book Buddies mentors read to and with elementary students in the local community, sharing their love for reading and opening children’s minds to all possibilities.
Book Buddies volunteers share a love for reading and to help young students set themselves up for future academic success.
The Inspiration
Our philanthropy takes inspiration from Jim Trelease, the champion of reading aloud to children for forty years. In 1979 he self-published The Read Aloud Handbook. His first edition led to nearly two million copies sold worldwide including those translated into many foreign languages. Jim Trelease included a well-known poem by Strickland Gillilan in the introduction to his handbook:
You may have tangible wealth untold:
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be-
I had a mother who read to me.