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You’re Never too Little to Share the Love of Reading
By Lynne Hamer, PhD; Program Coordinator Teach Toledo
Special to The Truth
“Allison’s Books + Beanies” is
collecting new children’s books and soft newborn hats to
give to babies and their parents in area Newborn Intensive
Care Units (NICUs) in Toledo.
The effort is in honor of Allison
Russell, a Toledo preschooler who loved books and who passed
away in August at age four, and is led by Allison’s family.
Sisters Brooklynn, Kalei, and Erin
Russell and mother Amy Russell spent many good times reading
with Allison, who was born premature at 26 weeks, and who
spent a lot of time in NICUs in Toledo and Ann Arbor.
Allison had five favorite books, the
most memorable being It’s Okay to be Different (by
Todd Parr), and she carried them around so much that they
had to be replaced often. Her sisters said that she really
enjoyed several “Find and Read” big board books as well.
Mom Amy recalled that in one book,
Allison liked to point to the various animals, make their
sounds, and at the end point to the sun, which was her cue
to sing “Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,” a favorite song
on many preschoolers.
Sister Kalei said they liked to read
to Allison because of her expressions: “When we read to her
she would smile, get excited and laugh.”
Mom Amy explained the importance of
reading to young children: “Even though she couldn’t maybe
understand all the words, just to hear your voice developed
her communication skills.”
This family knows that reading is an
act of love, and so they intend to share that love with
babies and their families in NICU units. They have asked
the general public and also their schoolmates at Grove
Patterson Academy and Toledo School for the Arts to help
spread the love this holiday season. Each school has a
donation box which is filling up with books, beanies, and
other cuddly toys.
Readers can find “Allison’s Books +
Beanies” on Facebook to share the call for donations with
others. Donations need to be new items, as children in NICU
have compromised immune systems. Donations can be taken to
Grove Patterson Academy (3020 Marvin Avenue), Toledo School
for the Arts (333 14th Street), or Pilgrim Church
(375 W. Sylvania).
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Allison Russell, age 4
Erin, Amy, Brooklynn, and Kalei Russell with more of
Allison’s family
One of Allison’s favorite books |
