The Corporate Volunteer Council (CVC) of Atlanta recently announced the winner of the 2012 Carol D. Reiser Children’s Book Award at the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Decatur Book Festival. This festival is the largest independent book festival in the country.
The CVC of Atlanta is the only professional association in the country offering a prestigious national book award designed to inspire volunteering in children. Now ten years old, the Carol D. Reiser Children’s Book Award is given annually to the children’s book or books published the preceding year that most effectively inspires community service and volunteering in children. This award which is focused towards children K-Grade 5, was established by the CVC of Atlanta, where Carol Reiser was co-founder and past president, and is a living tribute to Carol’s lifelong commitment to community service. I am honored to have known Carol and honored to serve as one of the judges for this award over the years along with several others. Reading all of the books each year along with my three children has been a delight.
This year’s winner is Do Something! A Handbook for Young Activists by Nancy Lublin, Vanessa Martir, and Julia Steers and published by Workman Publishing. During the Festival’s awards program, author Vanessa Martir talked with young people in the audience and their families about the importance of getting involved where your passion leads you. There were several guest appearances on stage to encourage kids to “Do Something” including representatives from The Captain Planet Foundation, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and The Pajama Program. Following the program and in the spirit of “doing something”, children in the audience signed an oversized “thinking of you” card for the patients of Children’s Healthcare.
Children are empowered by their contribution to the world. Empowered children grow into adults who make service and philanthropy a part of their everyday life. Service is a natural way for young people to assert their positive qualities. By serving others, kids establish connections with people of diverse cultures and economic situations as well as develop positive self-esteem and confidence. They strengthen their interpersonal and social skills in tolerance, problem solving, communication and teamwork
Research proves that caring volunteers working with students of all ages have the power to help kids boost academic achievement and put young people on track for a bright future. Help keep kids in school and on the path to a successful life. Pledge to become a volunteer reader, tutor or mentor. When working with young students, consider incorporating these award winning books into your activity sessions:
Past Carol D. Reiser Children’s Book Award winners include:
2010 Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French
2009 Grow: A Novel in Verse by Juanita Havill
2008 Reach Out and Give by Cheri J. Meiners, M.Ed.
2007 Ryan and Jimmy and the Well in Africa that Brought Them Together by Herb Shoveller
2006 Mother Teresa by Demi and Makeovers by Marcia by Claudia Mills
2005 The Giving Book by Ellen Sabin
2004 Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming
2003 Anna Casey’s Place in the World by Adrian Fogelin