Book Drive Aims to Promote Equity Through Picture Books

Books on tables

The Office of Child Development, housed within the School of Education, is hosting its second annual book drive to serve children up to age 8 in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas. 

Last year, in response to the Tree of Life tragedy, the office delivered 3,000 books across the region to help children process fear and embrace diversity. 

“The support we received for last year’s book drive was remarkable,” said Shannon Wanless, director of the Office of Child Development. “This year, we want to build on that momentum with ‘Books for Change’ — using picture books to promote equity in all its forms.” 

“We carefully selected books that both cover topics like abilities, race and economic insecurity and help adults talk to children about seeing, celebrating and standing up for all of the ways we are different from each other,” said Wanless.

The book drive officially kicks off Saturday, Oct. 5, in Schenley Plaza from 3 to 5 p.m. The public event will feature storytelling books from the drive’s book list in multiple languages with teachers from the Falk Laboratory School, a table to learn the basics of Braille with the Vision Studies program, bookmarks to color and much more. 

Can’t make it to the kickoff event? You can still help. View the 2019 book list and learn how you can give to the book drive.

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