International children’s authors with the charitable organization Ella’s Way of North Andover, Massachusetts, are planning nonprofit and educational outreach activities during Read Across America week scheduled for March 2 through 6. Scheduled initiatives include donating new books and reading to students with disabilities.
The Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency of Bettendorf, Iowa selected “Ada and the Helpers” by Ella’s Way author and graphic designer Travis Peterson of Norway for its Read Across America celebration. The book will be shared with deaf and hard-of-hearing students across several school districts in Iowa. In addition, some of the students with hearing loss will assist in creating a read-aloud video of Peterson’s picture book that features Ada, a fox with cochlear implants as the main character. Peterson, an American originally from North Carolina, also plans to share his book virtually with schools in the Hawkeye State.
Holly Mazzochi, a special education teacher and Ella’s Way author in Washington Township, New Jersey, will share her book “Bently the Bully” with elementary school students in the Garden State. Mazzochi plans follow-up learning activities to help reinforce anti-bullying messages and bolster reading comprehension skills.
Recognizing Read Across America and International Women’s Day, Robyn Gram-Barclay, an art teacher from Ontario, Canada, will participate in the annual Author and Artisan Event held in Mississauga. The Canadian Ella’s Way author is donating a portion of sales proceeds from her My Good Friend, Ted! book series to the Save the Whales organization based in Salinas, California.
Up With Books, a volunteer charitable organization based in Shirley, Massachusetts, is one of several groups receiving picture book donations from Ella’s Way. “We are excited about these books because these are the perfect type to share with children,” says Kimberly DeFreitas, the executive director of Up With Books. DeFreitas says the families they serve are often grappling with a host of challenges and can’t afford to buy learning resources. She adds the Ella’s Way books can empower children in low-income households with navigating their own difficulties while cultivating friendships with others who may be different.
The organization’s founder Sherry Cerino says the Ella’s Way books being used for the Read Across America outreach events cover a wide gamut of topics, ranging from living with disabilities to building allyships. Cerino adds that the main messages of the books written by the organization’s team of authors connect to the National Education Association’s Read Across America 2024 theme of providing diverse perspectives to help young readers understand how others think and feel.
In addition to supporting social and emotional learning goals, Cerino says Ella’s Way authors plan to reinforce the message that reading is a fun pastime that children can enjoy in many different settings. Cerino says generating enthusiasm about books can help strengthen literacy skills, a goal currently shared by the NEA and school districts.
Since 2013, Ella’s Way has provided books, learning activities, and author visits to over 160 schools in 25 states. Cerino says individual and business donations are needed to help the organization continue with its mission of fostering kindness and boosting literacy.
Ella’s Way is a 501(3) c charity based in North Andover, Massachusetts. The acronym E.L.L.A. stands for the non-profit’s motto that early learning leads to acceptance. To learn more about the resources offered by Ella’s Way authors and donation opportunities visit: Ella's Way - Landing Page (ellasway.com).
