Be The Light: Of Books & Buses

/ Ally Bean

I’ve joined in a yearlong monthly event called We Are The World Blogfest.  

The purpose of this event is to highlight positive news stories, presenting them on your blog on the last Friday of the month.

This being the last Friday of June, I have a positive story to share with you, my gentle readers. 

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THE NEWS STORY:  

In Albuquerque, N.M., a city program called Discover a Book stocks public buses with children’s books so that young riders, and anyone else, can have something to read as they ride the bus.  This project has been around since 2006.

The books, which come from the city’s Read To Me book donation program, are available on the bus in specially made cubbies on the back of each bus seat.  These cubbies allow the program to distribute about 8,000 books a year– and the program encourages families to take a book home with them if they want to.

As one community volunteer, Kathy Chilton, said of the Discover a Book program: “There is much to be done in New Mexico to improve families’ possibilities of success.  Discover a Book is a simple, inexpensive, and significant step toward that goal.”

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MY COMMENTARY:

I love this idea.  LOVE IT!

Books that are easily accessible are books that are read. That holds true for all of us.

I can think of no better way to casually, consistently introduce children of all ages to the idea that reading is fun and good than to have books right there in front of them when they’re bored.

And I can think of no better way to demonstrate to children and adults that there are people in your community who care about you.  People who want the best for all the kids who live there– and put their principles into practical actions.

I mean, FREE BOOKS.  And the time to read them?

This has win-win written all over it.  😉

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“Get wild about reading!“

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57 thoughts on “Be The Light: Of Books & Buses”

  2. I know that if I were a kid sitting on a bus, and I found a book in a pocket in front of me, it would feel like Christmas.
    I imagine that the books help in other ways, too, like less incidences of bad behaviour on the bus.
    Great idea. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Maggie, I was that kind of kid, too. A book to read, free for the taking? Christmas, indeed.

      I have no doubt that you’re right about how the books help keep the kids/families de-stressed, too.

      Liked by 2 people

  5. Yes, a GREAT idea! So many children and young people need this kind of program. How cool. I also like the neighborhood “little libraries” that provide books for people. Books can change lives.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. This is so fabulous! Some ideas just make your heart sigh with delight and this, for me, is one of them. May all children in our world have easy and abundant access to books.

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    • Deborah Weber, I felt the same way when I read this news story. I couldn’t stop smiling, thinking about the practicality and possibility within this program. Someone had a vision– and made it so.

      Like

    • You’re welcome, Zen-Den. Albuquerque was a cool place to visit, so I suppose it’s not surprising that it has such a great book program going on. Cool begets cool.

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  11. I instantly thought, “How can I donate to this wonderful idea?” LOVE books and reading and think it is so important for all kinds of reasons. Fortunate that both my daughters are into reading…my son not so much and I wonder if it was because when he was younger it was hard to find something he was interested in reading, although he is so into sports and being active that it is really probably just his personality. Thanks for sharing this uplifting story, Ally! It seems like it wasn’t quite so hard for you this month to find something to share. Maybe that’s a good sign too!

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    • Janet, I had the same response after reading this article. I wanted to donate books for the buses. I imagine that you’re right about a child’s personality influencing their desire to read, so you as a parent can only do so much. But for those kids who like books, or just want to pretend to like books to get something free, this program is wonderful.

      I had no trouble finding a positive story this month. In fact I found more than one but went with this one because… BOOKS! I wondered, too, if this is a good sign and have decided that it is.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. I continue to love that you are participating in this series, but I also absolutely love that program. I am going to have to look around and see if it has made its way to this part of the country too as I have a few books I would be willing to donate.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Allie, thanks. It’s interesting to intentionally search out good news. I never know what I’ll find and that makes it fun for me.

      I don’t know if this books on the bus program is anywhere else in the country, but you sure would hope so, wouldn’t you?

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  16. I love reading your’ We Are The World Blogfest’ posts each month. They are so uplifting. This post was no exception — such a great idea. Children + Books = Endless Possibilities!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Donna, thank you! I thought that this books on the bus idea was smart and practical. Kids will get interested in anything if it’s right there in front of them. Plus donating books would make me feel good, so I figure that everybody gets something out of this program.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Well that’s just wonderful! A great one to share!
    I cannot stand Between the Lions, but the first 5 or 6 thousand times I watched it, it was super cute 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  18. joey, I thought Albuquerque was onto something good here, considering it was about FREE BOOKS! I only saw Between the Lions about 100 times, while eating lunch and avoiding the noon news, so I have fond memories of it. But I can imagine that if you saw it more frequently, it would become tedious.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. I happen to think that reading, and a love of books can only lead to success in school, problem solving, brain development, etc. Plus, it’s FUN!! What a great program!

    Liked by 1 person

  22. This is such a beautiful program— there’s hope for us all yet. I wish we could have more and more folks from all parts of the world joining in the #WATWb so we could hear more such uplifting news!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Damyanti Biswas, I agree with you– on both counts. The book program charmed me with its simplicity and hope + more people involved in #WATWB would be cool. The quiet voices of uplifting news get lost in the noise of bad news. We need more goodness!

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  23. I LOVE this story, but possibly even more, I love the concept of sharing positive news – it can so easily feel as though the world is doom and gloom at the moment, this blog hop is sorely needed! So glad I stumbled across it!

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  24. I loved books as a kid and now even more so. I think this is a great thing to encourage kids of all ages to read when and where they can. Thanks for sharing this and for being a part of #WATWB

    Liked by 1 person

    • Lynn, I love books, too. Albuquerque’s idea is so simple, and makes me wonder why it’s not done elsewhere, everywhere. Thanks for stopping by to comment. It’s been fun to be involved in #WATWB.

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