When was the last time you visited the library? It could be the public library or the library at school. When I lived in Memphis I used to go to the Library almost every week. I would take the children I babysat for story time, and they would walk up and down the aisles and aisles of books, randomly pulling picture books off the shelf, while I sorted out which ones we would check out and which ones we would leave on the cart to be re shelved.Think about the last book you checked out. Was it a novel or a picture book? Maybe you checked out a book because you had to write a report for school. Did you enjoy it? Was it useful?
Now imagine what it would be like if there were no libraries. If you couldn’t go down the hall at your school to check out the book you needed for a re- port, or a novel to pass the time while you are on a road trip. Imagine if you didn’t have a single book in your house. How would you feel? What would you do? Now imagine that not only do you not have any books, but you don’t have a TV, computer, or video games either? Would you be bored? What would you do with all your free time?
All of those things, books, television, computers, video games are missing in the lives of many of the children who live in Peru. It makes me sad that some of the things that I like so much, and I know so many of the kids in the United States like too, are unavailable to so many of the children who live here.That is why we work so hard to change that. It is why we opened the library in Porvenir and why we look for opportunities to help other kids have access to books as well.
Below is an activity to demonstrate just how significant a role books have in your life. See if you can complete the titles, then consider how you might be able to help other kids who might not be as blessed as you are. (I included the authors just in case you get stuck.)