Communities For All Ages in New Rochelle Participates in World Book Night

Volunteers from New Rochelle’s Communities For All Ages participated in Tuesday’s World Book Night U.S.  

World Book Night U.S. is an ambitious campaign to give free, specially-printed books to light or non-readers across America.  Volunteer book lovers help promote reading by going into communities and handing out free copies of a great book to those without means or access to a printed book.

With the support of The Voracious Reader in Larchmont and the New Rochelle Public Library, volunteers shared books in New Rochelle at the following places:

HOPE Community Services

The Adult Learning Center - Ursuline Outreach

Columbus Elementary School parents

Jefferson Elementary School neighborhood

Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle - Remington

United Community Center of Westchester

Main Street

Library Green 

Communities For All Ages is very proud to have participated in World Book Night U.S., and yesterday our group of WBN book givers was delighted to spread the love of reading, person to person, by handing out books throughout the city.

The title chosen for distribution by CFAA givers was:

The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros (Vintage/Random House) 

La Casa en Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros; translated by Elena Poniatowska  (Vintage Español/Random House) 

This young adult novel is appealing to youth and adults alike. 

”The volunteer book givers are wonderful, generous and passionate people. World Book Night is not a random giveaway, but a focused attempt to reach people in communities who would benefit from the gift of a book,” said WBN US Executive Director Carl Lennertz. “Our volunteers give of their time and energy to seek out those in need, one by one, on April 23. It is a very specific and personal act of kindness—the sharing of a book with someone you don’t know—and we hope that more will hear about this and apply next year to be book givers themselves.”

Why April 23 for WBN?  

April 23 is the UNESCO International Day of the Book, as well as Shakespeare’s birthday. It was also chosen in honor of Miguel de Cervantes, who died on April 23, 1616 (the same day as Shakespeare). In the Catalan region of Spain, the day is celebrated by giving a book and a flower to a loved one.

World Book Night was the product of a round table discussion at London’s Book Industry Conference in May 2010, the purpose of which was to imagine a way to encourage more adults to read. What better way to spread a love for reading than to inspire passionate readers to go out into their communities and share copies of their favorite books with those who don’t regularly read? Giving is an incredibly powerful part of our culture—and culture, art, and a writers’ talent are all themselves ‘gifts’.

World Book Night was first celebrated in the UK and Ireland in 2011; in 2012, it was also celebrated in the USA and Germany.

World Book Night in the U.S. is a non-profit organization and has 501(c)3 nonprofit status. World Book Night U.S. is supported by publishers, Barnes & Noble, the American Booksellers Association, the American Library Association, Ingram Content Group, FedEx, printers, and paper companies; a full list of sponsors is at our website.

For more information about World Book Night, please go to www.WorldBookNight.org or visit Facebook and Twitter: www.facebook.com/worldbooknightusa   twitter.com/wbnamerica