Do you remember Heather?
She guest posted back in March about the loss of her sweet boy Samuel?
If you read her post, you know that she has a beautiful heart.
If you haven’t read her post, I urge you to go now.
You’ll love it.
Promise.
I want to be Heather when I grow up.
Because even through the inconceivable, Heather found hope and joy.
And a call to action.
She started the Joyful Life Project.
We feel strongly that reading a favorite story to a child is an act of love that’s comforting to the child and the caregiver alike, and is especially important when your life has been turned upside down because of a little one’s critical illness. As a parent of a hospitalized child, you often feel helpless because there is so little comfort and care you can offer. Being able to sit and read a book, just like you would do at home, helps to make the entire family feel a little bit better. Because of this we have set out to put books in as many PICU’s as we possible can.
The Joyful Life Library Project aims to create libraries of children’s books in as many pediatric intensive care units across the world as possible. We want to inspire others to participate with us in this project, so that together we can create something amazing.
Is that not the coolest thing ever?
I’m so in love with it.
Henry’s 4th birthday was June 23rd.
Lucy & Jilly’s 2nd birthday is July 12th (tomorrow!).
In honor of my children’s birthdays, I wanted to do something meaningful in this blog space amid the photos of birthday parties and cupcake recipes….
So, I’m hosting a book drive for the Joyful Life Library…and offering you a prize package worth $300!!!
Here’s how it works:
There are currently six Joyful Life Libraries established around the country.
Heather has set up an Amazon wishlist for each location:
Buy books for the Joyful Life Library of your choice…which will be shipped directly to the hospital.
Then, for each book you buy, you leave a comment in this post.
1 book = 1 entry. 5 books = 5 entries.
The book drive will run one week and will end on Monday, July 18th…
where ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL GET EVERY. SINGLE. THING you see listed below.
THREE. HUNDRED. DOLLARS worth of amazing.
Prepare to die from the fabulous.
Maggie is giving away a $50 shop credit to Gussy Sews!
Lisa is offering a $50 shop credit to Lisa Leonard Designs!!!
Lindsey of The Pleated Poppy is offering a $35 shop credit to her shop!
Jess of Allora Handmade is giving one lucky winner a $25 shop credit for her rolled rosette goodness!
Lindsay of Paint Me a Picture is offering a State Love painting of your choice, in the colors of your choice! ($25 value)
Andrea of Knitty Bitties is offering the winner a mug rug & coffee coat of their choice ($16 value)!
Connie is offering a $40 shop credit to Circle Line Studio!
April of Funky Vintage Lovely is giving away one Keep Calm and Carry On necklace ($22 value).
Holly of Mommy Holly is offering a $10 shop credit to her shop of stamped and punched fun!
Krystina of Lollipops is offering a retro notebook & set of monogram stationary (value $20).
Wendy is giving away a copy of her hilarious book Totally Desparate Mom in your choice of print or Kindle version ($12 value).
You still there?
Have you picked yourself up off the floor?
Now, back to the book drive.
For each book you buy, you will receive an entry to the giveaway.
The more books you buy, the more entries you get.
Don’t forget to leave SEPARATE comments with the title of each book you purchased in THIS POST.
(and save your email receipt so I can verify if you are the winner)
There are some really affordable books, and as always, Amazon offers free shipping for any order over $25.
Amazon is having a promotion right now: many of the books are buy 3, get 1 free! So that’s 4 entries for the price of 3!!!!
Here is the list of amazon shops/hospitals again:
Go forth and SHOP!
Let’s make Henry, Lucy & Jill’s birthday CRAZY AMAZING this year!!!
I can’t wait to see your hearts through this very special book drive.
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book#1 are you my mother-spanish edition!
book#2 go, dog go-spanish edition!
book#3 harry the dirty dog-spanish edition!
thanks so much! the joyful life library is my fave! xo
Oh yeah!! I love that you’re doing this. My husband did his pediatric residency training at Children’s Hospital of Orange County and was inspired to become a NICU doctor so we now live in NC for his training in that. But I was excited to get to donate to our old hospital.
Book #1 B is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC
Book #2 Duck and Goose, How are you Feeling?
Book #3 Bear Feels Scared
Book #4 Kiss Good Night
Book #5 Gossie and Friends Plays Hide and Seek
thank you again for doing this. It is a wonderful thing for the kids and the hospitals!!
I sent Good Night, Spot by Eric Hill to the IU Health North hospital in Indiana.
i LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!!
Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton
Little Critter Just Me and My Puppy
Little Critter I Was So Mad
Little Critter Just My Friend and Me
Little Critter Just For You
Little Critter When I Get Bigger
Berenstein Bears He Bear/She Bear
Berenstein Bears Messy Room
This is awesome.
Book #1 Corduroy
Book #2 Curious George Visits the Library
To Doernbecher: #1 Big Dog and Little Dog Going for a Walk
To Doernbecher: #2 Little Blue Truck Board Book
To Doernbecher: #3 I Spy Little Animals
To Doernbecher: #4 Horns to Toes and in Between
To Doernbecher: #5 Where Is Baby’s Belly Button?
What a great thing to do! I sent all 3 of mine to the CHOC Children’s Child Life Dept.
Orange,CA. #1: Goodnight Moon
#2: Wheels on the Bus (Pudgy Board Book)
#3: Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
#1-I love you sun/I love you moon (spanish) All going to IU Health North
#2-Big Dog/Little Dog (spanish)
#3- My Love for You (spanish)
#4- Goodnight Gorilla
#5- The very lazy ladybug
#6- If you give a pig a party
More in honor of my birthday and my “nephews” birthday going to Arizona to Cardon’s Childrens Hospital. #1 Big dog/Little dog
#2 From head to toe
#3 The going to bed book
#4 Hug
#5 Love and kisses
THIS is so right up my ally!!!! I see such a difference in my students when they read with their parents — I can pretty much predict (based on reading ability, attitude toward reading, and some aspects of their social development) which kids have been read to and which haven’t. A book is a powerful thing.
I kind of got excited and went a little overboard. I picked 4 of my favorites and one I’m not familiar with. Here goes:
“The Runaway Bunny (Spanish edition): El conejito andarin”
Margaret Wise Brown
I forgot to say I sent these to Long Beach.
“Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp”
Syd Hoff
“Blueberries for Sal”
Robert McCloskey
“Miss Nelson Is Missing!”
Harry Allard
“The Doorbell Rang”
Pat Hutchins
I love CHOC and am so glad I get to love on them for the way they took such good care of Sedona when she broke her arm last year. Book #1 Moo, Baa, La La La
Book #2 Mi Amor Por Ti, My Love For You
Thanks for doing this, Jeannett!
Sedona’s choice: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly
Marissa’s choice: Duck and Goose, How Are You Feeling?
#1 – Oh the Things You Can Think
#2 – Corduroy