Featuring Open Books was the perfect way to open up 2012 and showcase the great works of this meaningful literacy advocacy organization.  Open Books enriches lives through reading, writing, and the remarkable power of used books.  Through their mission, Open Books is fighting a literacy crisis here in Chicago.  44% of 4th grade students cannot read aloud fluently, and more than 60% of low-income families have no children’s books at home.  Open Books’ signature literacy programs focus on sharing the love of reading and writing with the next generation. How proud we are to have been able to extend this mission to our mom community and encourage the power of reading with our little ones in the process!

Your LOVE for literacy and tremendous support of our work with Open Books was felt far and wide.  The number of books donated by More Than Milk moms’ playgroups and book clubs throughout Chicago exceeded 600 books! It’s so fun to know that books we’ve loved and shared with our kids can enjoy a second life in the hands of a new reader who can’t wait to get their hands on a great book.

Our Winter Wonderland Story Time Festival at Open Books, presented along with Bump Club and Beyond and sponsored by Simon and Schuster, was the first of many fun-filled reading events at Open Books these last two months. Kids and parents alike reveled in the music of Miss Sarah from Bubbles Academy, followed by author Andrea Beaty’s reading of her book Artist Ted.

Thanks to your donations, pledges, and our generous sponsors hipiti, simply by suzy, and Bump Club and Beyond, our Read Together Read-a-thon promoting literacy and the power of used books raised over $400 for Open Books. In just one day at Open Books, over 100 books were read by 20 moms to their children. The power of reading is infectious and made for such a cozy day as we curled up with so many great books!