What I’m doing for International Book Giving Day

Today is International Book Giving Day!

This brilliant idea of Amy‘s is all about getting new, used, or borrowed books in the hands of as many kids as possible. Simple, really!

I’m donating this super pile of books to the Book Swap at my girls’ school. The whole lot cost me a tenner from our local charity bookshop.

As it’s actually school holidays here right now, the books will be in kids’ hands this time next week.

And I shall be taking the bundle below, culled from our own bookshelves at home, round to our GP’s surgery for their waiting room or for the Health Visitors to have on hand when families have appointments and siblings need to be kept entertained.

I’ve printed off lots of copies of the beautiful book plate designed by author/illustrator Clara Vulliamy and stuck them inside my books to be donated.

Click here to download a pdf version of the book plate for you to use.

My Dad and I have also sent a consignment of books to the Helen Kaunda Memorial Library in Luanshya, Zambia, via Books for Zambia.

In the early 70s my parents were working in Luanshya, and it’s where I was born. Luanshya has a population of almost 120,000, but only one library. It rather puts into perspective the fact that within 20 minutes I can cycle to 4 different local libraries (5, if you include the weekly mobile library) here in Birmingham.

These are the books we chose to send:

It’s not too late for you to get involved with International Book Giving Day! You could donate to a reading/literacy charity online – I have a long list here. You could take your kids to the library after school and choose some new books for them. Or you could commit to donating a book to someone in the next few days 🙂

On February 21st there will be a grand coming-together of everyone who has donated books as part of International Book Giving Day. There will be a link-up of blog posts over at http://bookgivingday.blogspot.com/. If you’re not a blogger, please leave a comment on the 21st sharing what you did for International Book Giving Day. You can also share the fun you had via the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/BookGivingDay.

I’m really looking forward to hearing from you about your #BookGivingDay adventures!