Madison Reading Project’s “Clear the Book List” efforts to recognize top area teachers with their classroom book wishes, and engage the public to donate their choices for classrooms, is almost at its goal. 

The nonprofit is asking for the community’s help to ensure the lists are cleared before school starts.

Launched earlier last week, “Clear the Booklist Campaign” features 10 remarkable teachers, nominated by peers, to receive their exact 25 book wishes to stock their classroom libraries. To salute and recognize these teachers, people throughout our area have been visiting the booklist site to purchase the books teachers know kids will yearn to read. 

“The 10 nominated teachers shared their dream book lists with us,” says Rowan Childs, Madison Reading Project’s co-executive director and founder. “Parents, booklovers, and fellow teachers have been excited and honored to donate exact titles for classrooms and have already reached the half-way point this week. About 100 books are needed to be donated right now from the original 250. With the public making these book purchases, educators’ costs are  lower. Many often need to spend up to $1000 of their own money each year building, diversifying and updating their classrooms.”

You can meet each of these teachers and their own reading and teaching journeys at www.madisonreadingproject.com along with their books wish list and a link to easily make a purchase.

“Teachers, from kindergarten through high school, need educator love and we’re making it easy to share it with them and their students,” adds Deirdre Steinmetz, co-executive director. “We’re excited to clear all the lists by the end of this weekend, just in time for the new school year. Now is the time to make it happen.”

A simple click to donate a book is all it takes to thank an educator, perhaps one in particular who helped you fall in love with learning, or to honor a memory of a great teacher. 

“By purchasing a book, you are helping hundreds of children fall in love with learning and discover the joy of reading,” Childs adds, “Now it’s your turn to give back, and say thanks!”

Madison Reading Project’s mission since forming as a nonprofit in 2014 is to connect communities with free books and literacy resources to ignite a love for reading, which reflects and affirms the diversity of young readers.