‘Books are meant to be read, reread and used’

Here at the Child Care Council of Orange County, we work directly with child care providers in many capacities.

We often hear the need of materials within classrooms, especially books. Books are provided to children from infants to preschoolers. Even a toddler classroom will have a small library for the children.

Providers expressed their need for more quality books. Since the books are used frequently by the children, they are torn and worn down over time.

Replacing the books with high quality books is often difficult and expensive.

We as the council also encourage the use of diverse books that celebrate various languages, cultures and abilities.

In this time of banning books, we came together with the goal of collecting books to give back to the child care providers.

During March, we put out collection boxes at various locations including public libraries and our own building. The request was for new or gently used board or picture books for children aged birth through five years old. We set up a wish list on Amazon that provided ideas of books that celebrated diversity for individuals that would like idea.

In all, we collected more than 3,000 books from all over the county. The books have been sorted and are now being distributed to the 180 child care providers in Orange County that service children infants to age five.

The books are being handed out as a thank you to our wonderful child care providers for New York State Early Childhood Educator and Child Care Provider Appreciation Week May 8-12.

The response to the book drive from the county was generous and heartwarming.

Books are meant to be read, reread and used.

I can guarantee that the books provided by the community will have special places in the classrooms they go to and more importantly be special to the children who will use them.

Sally-Ann Raessler

Child Care Council of Orange County