I love to read. One of my fondest memories as a child being a member of the Book-of-the-Month club. Each month a book would be delivered to my house and my dad and I would read it together. They started delivering when I was relatively young so it first my dad would read the book to me. As I got older and learn to read I then read the book aloud to him. I am sure my love of reading was inspired by that special shared time with my dad and that’s why I’m so excited to share the new Disney Junior’s Disney Junior Give A Book, Get A Book Program.
The second morning of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration we kicked off the morning with a delicious breakfast sponsored by Disney Junior. Genevieve Goings, from the sassy singing, Choo Choo Soul opened the presentation and introduced lifelong children’s literacy advocate LeVar Burton, Cofounder and Curator-in-Chief of the award-winning Reading Rainbow app. I was thrilled to listen to someone speak that was so integral in my own love of reading. What was disheartening were the statistics referencing the huge numbers of children in America without access to books to allow them to be inspired as I was as a child.
Nancy Kanter, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Disney Junior Worldwide and First Book Board Member shared details of the new Give A Book, Get A Book Nationwide program. With the help of families across the United States, Disney and First Book will donate up to one million books to U.S. communities in need and will present families with free digital books from Disney Publishing Worldwide.
Families can now take advantage of an all-new website, GiveaBookGetaBook.com, featuring tools and resources for parents and caregivers that promote the value of storytelling and offer interactive activities. Beginning April 21 in Disney Store locations and later this summer at other nationwide retailers, there are two ways to Give a Book, Get a Book. For a limited time, with the purchase of any specially-marked Disney Junior book or product, receipts or packaging will include a redemption code allowing kids and families to direct the donation of a book to First Book in the region of their choice and to access a free Disney Digital Book to share as a family. Additionally, Give a Book, Get a Book bookmarks with redemption codes will be distributed to visitors at participating public libraries and Radio Disney events throughout the summer.
Starting April 21, Disney Store locations will also provide an enhanced interactive “Storytime Powered by Give a Book, Get a Book” featuring two new stories from Disney Junior favorites, “Sofia the First” and “Jake and the Never Land Pirates.” In addition to the in-store readings, Disney Store locations will host special storytime events at Boys & Girls Clubs of America in multiple markets across the U.S. Children at these events will be given a free book along with a redemption code bookmark.
The kids loved meeting Genevieve Goings (Choo Choo Soul), who also hosts the Give a Book, Get a Book public service announcements on Disney Channel.
I also ran into the adorable Ariel Winter, from Disney Junior’s Sofia the First, and she was so sweet to agree to a quick photo with the kids.
After our presentations, we rejoined our families for some amazing story telling fun. Disney Junior stars Ariel Winter and Tim Gunn, both from Sofia the First and David Arquette, from Jake and the Never Land Pirates did an incredible job reading Mickey and the Beanstalk to everyone, and then LeVar Burton took some time to read a story to all of us as well. Big thanks to the fab photographer Josh Hallet, for sharing his photos with all of the DSMMs, including the one below.
It was a fabulous morning and one my family and I will remember for years to come. Reading with our children so important all aspects of their development and I’m elated the Disney Junior has such a strong presence in helping our youth of today flourish.
What’s your favorite childhood reading memory?
Are your kids huge fans of The Disney Channel like mine are?
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