Melinda Mullet
I have supported Room to Read for many years and it is one of my favorite literacy charities. Room to Read believes that the most meaningful and lasting social and economic change comes from educating women and children. They operate largely in developing countries, and they have recognized that one of the biggest obsticals to expanding literacy is the lack of age appropriate reading materials for children. Children's literature is not a money making proposition for publishers. Room to Read has established a not for profit publishing arm which seeks out local story tellers and artists to create children's early readers that reflect the culture, history and environment of the local population. They have printed more than 4,700 books in over 55 languages and dialects. Click on their logo to read more and see how you can support their efforts.
First Book does many of the same things that Room to Read does but in underserved communities in the US. They have distributed more than 250 million books and they reach 6.5 million children a year. Read more by clicking on the logo.
As a writer and a prolific reader I find the current wave of book bans to be very unsettling. Unite Against Book Bans is a bi-partisan group that works with teachers and librarians to oppose censorship and book bans. I realize that this is a sensitive subject for many people, but I believe that knowledge is power at every level and I would encourage you to make use of UABB's book resume resources to research and understand why specific books are being challenged or banned. It is an essential tool for parents trying to make decisions for their own childrens' needs and interests. Check it out!