Read
Have you heard of Sylvia Townsend? I hadn’t until my daughter checked out Ready to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina. Based on the cover illustration, my budding ballerina thought she had selected a ballerina story, but it turned out to be so much more.
This nonfiction book tells the story of Sylvia Townsend, who taught herself the essentials of classical ballet by reading books. Growing up in the 1950s as an African American, Sylvia wasn’t allowed at many ballet schools, so she used books to learn the basics and ultimately becomes a successful dancer. The books she read came from a bookmobile that visited her neighborhood. As a way to give back to her community, Sylvia gave lessons to others in her neighborhood. The story is such a powerful lesson in the importance of dreams, books, and giving back.
Learn
After reading the story, read up on the history of the bookmobile and Little Free Libraries. These are both excellent ways for children to access books that can empower them in the same way Sylvia Townsend was. Start brainstorming how your family can contribute to these efforts.
Here are a few ideas: locally, Children’s Museum of Richmond has a Book Buggy and a Book Bank. The Book Bank accepts donations, while the Book Buggy is a van that delivers books at events. Another Richmond-based initiative, Little Free Diverse Library accepts donations at their locations throughout the city. Lastly, check out lflhunter_rva on Instagram for a directory of Little Free Libraries in our area.
Read about unique Little Free Libraries in RVA!
Go
Begin by collecting books around our home that your children no longer read. I find it helpful to give my kids a specific number (“please 5 find books you’re ready for another friend to enjoy”). Load up the books, and decide where to donate them. You could make it fun by visiting several Little Free Libraries, or keep it simple with delivering all the books to one location. This is an easy and valuable service project for families, as it can be done on your schedule, it helps declutter your home, and most importantly, gives other families the gift of literacy, so like Sylvia Townsend, they too can pursue their dreams!
