How We Harness the Power of Words
Book Drives
Reading Is Revolutionary organizes book drives for new books to distribute to foster care children and caregivers through organizations, such as Carrying Hope, Montgomery County Route Kids Meals and CASA. We only collect and donate brand new books because we are adamant that children facing the emotional turmoil, anxiety, and disorientation of foster care be gifted books that make them feel valued.
Kids' Meals delivers meals to children facing food insecurity here locally. On their Montgomery County Route, they have a little more than 500 children that they serve. Village Books has put together a wish list of titles--all of the books are board books and most are under $10. Our goal is to hit the 500 mark of new books to donate, so that every child served by Montgomery County Route Kids' Meals can experience the comfort of a story. Here is the Wish List if you would like to contribute: https://myvillagebooks.indielite.org/wishlist/boclotridrisw. Please note at checkout that this is for Montgomery County Route Kids' Meals.
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Carrying Hope Houston is an organization that provides backpacks filled with necessities for children going into foster care. Reading Is Revolutionary's book drives add brand new books to those backpacks, and we have put together a wish list of suggested books. The majority of these books are under $10 and are paperback for ease of carrying. Our current book drive is for children ages toddler to 8 years old, with a few middle grade books included. Here is the Wish List: https://myvillagebooks.indielite.org/wishlist/trutodrabrose. Just check “I would like to pickup this order” and put “book drive” in the comments and we will order, and when it’s delivered to the store we will box up for Carrying Hope!
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Literary Festivals
Reading Is Revolutionary is introducing Read to Me, a new picture book festival in Montgomery County. The festival will include author-led story times, StoryJam!, games, storybook character visits, and other fun activities. The first Read to Me festival will be on Saturday, November 16.
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We also partner with The Woodlands Arts Council to bring Books on the Green to the iconic, three-day The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival. Books on the Green is designed to promote reading, literacy and storytelling to the entire family because the best way to raise a reader is to be a reader. The schedule features authors across genres, including picture and middle grade books, romance, thrillers, and contemporary fiction. In addition, librarians from the Montgomery County Memorial Library System join us in the Books on the Green tent, so that families can sign up for library cards.
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StoryJam!
StoryJam! inspires young bookworms through an interactive story that gets them up and moving plus a fun group exercise that encourages them to create a story of their own. The free event inspires creativity and introduces children to the power of storytelling.
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She's Legend Workshops
She's Legend Workshops are led by local women who are doing extraordinary things every day in seemingly everyday ways. Through the workshops, these women--these legends--share their knowledge, experiences, and stories, encouraging, inspiring and motivating others to do the same. Topics have included making connections, focusing on creativity, living fearlessly, and being kind with boundaries.
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Storytelling Competitions
Before there were books, there were storytellers. They were the community entertainers, the narrators of history, and the stewards of culture. Reading Is Revolutionary Storytelling Competitions, in partnership with Village Books, rekindle this ancient art form. Stories shared are both heartfelt and hilarious, and they serve to connect the storytellers and the audience.
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