Yesterday, while I was talking about books and writing with an amazing group of 4th and 5th graders in Western New York, another group of elementary school students took shelter in their school, clinging to walls, huddling in the protective arms of their teachers as a tornado swept through their city. Later on, I saw the rescue crews on the news, and my heart ached for all of those families.
I spent time in the Oklahoma City area when I was researching my weather thriller, Eye of the Storm, and the people were so welcoming and wonderful. Those of us who weren’t in the storm’s path may be in a position to help now. So here’s a chance to do that.
Instead of pulling together an auction like we did to benefit the SuperStorm Sandy KidLitCares relief effort, I thought we’d try something faster, because Oklahoma needs help right now, given the magnitude of damage from this week’s EF5 tornado. Please consider making a donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Effort now. If you donate at least $10, I’ll enter you in a drawing to win a signed book.
I’m donating some of my books, and some other authors are doing the same – not because a book giveaway is the real reason to make this donation but because it’s a way for the children’s literature community to promote the effort and say thanks to those who decide to donate. I’m hoping that we can also donate signed books to the library system that serves families affected by the tornado, either to add to their collections or to distribute to displaced families. More on that when things settle down some…but here’s the KidLitCares Donation Drive information.
To be entered in the KidLitCares for Oklahoma Book Giveaway:
Click here and make a donation of at least $10 for American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Ideally, you’ll do this now. Like, right now. But if you want to be entered for the book drawing, be sure to do it before 12pm EST on June 7th. I’ll enter your name in the drawing once for each $10 you donate. So a $50 donation equals five chances to win.
You’ll receive an email receipt from the Red Cross. Forward that receipt to kidlitcares@gmail.com, and you’ll automatically be entered in the drawing for one of our donated signed books! You can see an ever-updating list of donated signed books below!
On June 7th, I’ll draw names for as many books as we have donated. I’ll contact you via email if you win so that you can provide a mailing address for the author to mail your signed book. Because our authors are donating postage, books can be mailed to US addresses only. (Sorry!) Again – the deadline is 12pm EST on June 7th.
***NEWSFLASH 5/22 2pm : We’ve just had a MEGA-DONATION FOR A GRAND-PRIZE GIVEAWAY!!
One of my amazing publishers, Chronicle Books, has just donated TWO great big prize packages for KidLitCares for Oklahoma Red Cross donors. One is a collection of great Chronicle YA titles, and the other is a spectacular picture book package. So here’s what we’re going to do…
Whoever makes the LARGEST Red Cross donation via KidLitCares before noon EST on June 7th will get to choose one of these two packages as a thank you gift. The other package will be given to one of our $10 or more donors, chosen in a random drawing. That way, there’s incentive to give BIG if you can – as well as incentive to give whatever you can, even if your heart is bigger than your wallet. 🙂 Check out these great titles…
Chronicle Books YA Books KidLitCares Thank You Package
PRISONERS IN THE PALACE by Michaela MacColl GIRL MEETS BOY by Kelly Milner Halls THE SPACE BETWEEN TREES by Katie Williams THE ORPHAN OF AWKWARD FALLS by Keith GravesChronicle Books PICTURE BOOKS KidLit Cares Thank You Package
HIS SHOES WERE FAR TOO TIGHT by Daniel Pinkwater and Calef Brown
WUMBERS by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld BEARS! BEARS! BEARS! by Bob Barner IT’S A TIGER by David LaRochelle and Jeremy Tankard AN EGG IS QUIET by Dianna Aston and Sylvia Long DUCK! RABBIT! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld FLORA AND THE FLAMINGO by Molly Idle CHLOE INSTEAD by Micah Player Update: 5/24 – Another Mega-Donation from Boyds Mills Press – this will be given away as another grand prize in our drawing! WORDSONG Book Basket from Boyds Mills Press Cowboys by David L. Harrison Bug Off by Jane Yolen Running with Trains by Michael J. Rosen If You Were a Chocolate Mustache by J. Patrick Lewis Grumbles from the Forest by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Jane Yolen Face Bug by J. Patrick LewisPlease donate – and help us spread the word about KidLitCares for Oklahoma by sharing this link on Twitter, Facebook and wherever else you have friends!
http://katemessner.com/lets-help-kidlitcares-for-oklahoma/
Here’s the list of books that have already been donated and will be given away on June 7th…
(It will grow…and I will try my best to keep up with it…please be patient! New books will be added daily.)
HIDE AND SEEK by Kate Messner
WAKE UP MISSING by Kate Messner
THE REINVENTION OF EDISON THOMAS by Jacqueline Houtman
SIRENS by Janet Fox
BIGGER THAN A BREADBOX by Laurel Snyder
PASSING THE MUSIC DOWN by Sarah Sullivan
SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE by Joanne Levy
1 ZANY ZOO by Lori Degman
THE GENTLEMAN BUG by Julian Hector
TRADING FACES by Julie DeVillers and Jennifer Roy
BEDEVILED: DADDY’S LITTLE ANGEL by Shani Petroff
HOUNDS: LOYAL HUNTING COMPANIONS by Becky Levine
THE SINISTER SWEETNESS OF SPLENDID ACADEMY by Nikki Loftin
SPLISH SPLASH! by Naomi Davis
COUNTING ON GRACE by Elizabeth Winthrop
THE GOLLYWHOPPER GAMES by Jody Feldman
PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS by Diane Zahler
FLUTTER by Gina Linko
WHERE DO DIGGERS SLEEP AT NIGHT by Brianna Caplan Sayres
THE WIG IN THE WINDOW by Kristen Kittscher
I DARE YOU NOT TO YAWN! by Helene Boudreau
THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING by Linda Urban
SEE YOU AT HARRY’S by Jo Knowles
CANARY IN THE COAL MINE by Madelyn Rosenberg
NO SAFETY IN NUMBERS by Dayna Lorentz
HOPE IN PATIENCE by Beth Fehlbaum
COWBOY CAMP by Tammi Sauer
THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN OKLAHOMA by Tammi Sauer
NUGGET AND FANG by Tammi Sauer
THE WATER CASTLE by Megan Frazer Blakemore
ONE FOR THE MURPHYS by Linda Mullaly Hunt
WANT TO GO PRIVATE by Sarah Darer Littman
LIFE, AFTER by Sarah Darer Littman
CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL: THE POWER OF POSITIVE by Sarah Darer Littman
THE UNQUIET by Jeannine Garsee
SAY THE WORD by Jeannine Garsee
BEYOND LUCKY by Sarah Aronson
I’M BORED by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
THOUSAND WORDS by Jennifer Brown
MADHATTAN MYSTERY by John J. Bonk
THE FLINT HEART by Katherine Paterson (signed by Katherine Paterson & John Rocco, donated by Anne Moore)
TEACH YOUR BUFFALO TO PLAY DRUMS by Audrey Vernick
THE UNIVERSE OF FAIR by Leslie Bulion
BROTHERS AT BAT: THE TRUE STORY OF AN AMAZING ALL-BROTHER BASEBALL TEAM by Audrey Vernick
SCARS by Cheryl Rainfield
STAINED (ARC) by Cheryl Rainfield
PHANTOM STALLION: THE WILD ONE by Terri Farley
THE CAMPING TRIP THAT CHANGED AMERICA by Barb Rosenstock
FEARLESS by Barb Rosenstock
THE SWEETEST THING by Christina Mandelski
BOY + BOT by Ame Dyckman
THE MAPMAKER AND THE GHOST by Sarvenaz Tash
NEVER EIGHTEEN by Megan Bostic
MELONHEAD AND THE BIG STINK by Katy Kelly
FOREST HAS A SONG by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater
COMPLETE set of CHARLIE JOE JACKSON book!! by Tommy Greenwald
THE SMALL ADVENTURES OF POPEYE AND ELVIS by Barbara O’Connor
ETERNAL by Cynthia Leitich Smith
CHRONAL ENGINE by Greg Leitich Smith
THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA by Ellis Weiner
IF IT’S NO TROUBLE…A BIG POLAR BEAR by Lisa Dalrymple
GLORY BE by Augusta Scattergood
WHY KIMBA SAVED THE WORLD by Meg Dendler
MY COLD PLUM LEMON PIE BLUESY MOOD by Tameka Fryer Brown
HOW MARTHA SAVED HER PARENTS FROM GREEN BEANS by David LaRochelle
ME AND MEOW by Adam Gudeon
NOBODY’S SECRET by Michaela MacColl
DOUBLE VISION by F.T. Bradley
BOOKS 1-3 in the JAGUAR STONES series by J and P Voelkel
THESE SEAS COUNT by Alison Formento
MERELY DEE by Marian Cheatham
AUDITION AND SUBTRACTION by Amy Fellner Dominy
BIG SLICK by Eric Luper
WILD THINGS by Clay Carmichael
BROTHER, BROTHER (ARC) by Clay Carmichael
GONE FISHING: A NOVEL IN VERSE by Tamera Will Wissinger
WHEN A DRAGON MOVES IN by Jodi Moore
GOOD NEWS NELSON by Jodi Moore
ABSENT by Katie Williams
THE REVENANT by Sonia Gensler
OUT OF NOWHERE by Maria Padian
ISABELLA, STAR OF THE STORY by Jennifer Fosberry
WRITE A POEM STEP BY STEP by JoAnn Early Macken
WAITING OUT THE STORM by JoAnn Early Macken
KEEPER by Kathi Appelt
TRUE BLUE SCOUTS OF SUGAR MAN SWAMP by Kathi Appelt
MISS LADY BIRD’S WILDFLOWERS by Kathi Appelt
PICKLE by Kim Baker
THE 13TH SIGN by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb
SELLING HOPE by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb
AUTUMN WINIFRED OLIVER DOES THINGS DIFFERENT by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb
FREEDOM’S FIRE by Elizabeth Falk
THE RED UMBRELLA by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
A THUNDEROUS WHISPER by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
THE BARFTASTIC LIFE OF LOUIE BURGER by Jenny Meyerhoff
SAMI’S SLEEPAWAY SUMMER by Jenny Meyerhoff
GIVE UP THE GHOST by Megan Crewe
THE WAY WE FALL by Megan Crewe
AFTER ELI by Rebecca Rupp
THE DRAGON OF LONELY ISLAND by Rebecca Rupp
POOP HAPPENED by Sarah Albee
SECRETS AND SHADOWS by Shannon Delany
WEATHER WITCH (ARC w/ author notations & hand-crafted bookmark!) by Shannon Delany
OPEN THIS LITTLE BOOK by Jesse Klausmeier
FAIRY BELL SISTERS 1 & 2 by Julia Denos
CALL ME OKLAHOMA by Miriam Glassman
DO PRINCESSES WEAR HIKING BOOTS? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle
DO PRINCESSES REALLY KISS FROGS? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle
DO PRINCESSES SCRAPE THEIR KNEES by Carmela LaVigna Coyle
DO PRINCESSES HAVE BEST FRIENDS FOREVER? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle
THANK YOU, AUNT TALLULAH! by Carmela LaVigna Coyle
DO SUPER HEROES HAVE TEDDY BEARS? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle
THE THING ABOUT GEORGIE by Lisa Graff
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUNNY! by Liz Garton Scanlon
THE HUMMING ROOM by Ellen Potter
THE KNEEBONE BOY by Ellen Potter
MUSTACHE BABY by Bridget Heos
BEASTLY FEASTS by Robert L. Forbes
LET’S HAVE A BITE! by Robert L. Forbes
BEAST FRIENDS FOREVER by Robert L. Forbes
HEAVENLY by Jennifer Laurens
OVERPROTECTED by Jennifer Laurens
MAGIC HANDS by Jennifer Laurens
ONCE UPON A TOAD by Heather Vogel Frederick
GOLDIE LOCKS HAS CHICKEN POX and LITTLE BO PEEP CAN’T GET TO SLEEP by Erin Dealey
CANTA, RANA, CANTA/SING, FROGGIE, SING by Carolyn Flores
DEVIANTS and COMPLIANCE (Dust Chronicles 1 & 2) by Maureen McGowan
Hey Kate–I would be very happy to donate a library (hardcover) edition of POOP.
You’re awesome.
Sarah
Got it- thanks!
Hi Kate– count me in. Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox and Little Bo Peep Can’t Get To Sleep / Atheneum, Siomon & Schuster.
Got it, Erin – thanks!
I’d be happy to donate copies of Ducks Go Vroom (hardcover library edition early reader), Estie the Mensch, and Duck Sock Hop. (hardcover picture books).
Jane, we’re in pretty good shape for right now (we have a book for every donor and then some!) but if you want to drop me an email kidlitcares@gmail.com, I’ll let you know if donations start to outpace books. Thanks!
I would love to donate a book to the cause, but I can’t find the link for that. It would be Ten Creepy Monsters, written and illustrated by moi. How do I go about doing that?
Carey, we’re in pretty good shape for right now (we have a book for every donor and then some!) but if you want to drop me an email kidlitcares@gmail.com, I\’ll let you know if donations start to outpace books. Thanks!
What a great idea! I’d love to donate a copy of THE DARKEST CORNER OF THE WORLD. Where do I send it?
Urve, we\’re in pretty good shape for right now (we have a book for every donor and then some!) but if you want to drop me an email kidlitcares@gmail.com, I\\\’ll let you know if donations start to outpace books. Thanks!
Hi Kate, I’ll happily donate a copy of my YA novel, A Closer Look. I applaud your effort!
Hi, Karen! We’re in pretty good shape for right now (we have a book for every donor and then some!) but if you want to drop me an email kidlitcares@gmail.com,I’ll let you know if donations start to outpace books. Thanks!
Thanks so much for doing this, Kate!! I’m reading Eye of the Storm aloud to my daughter, so this is very eerie and prophetic as well as sad 🙁
By the way, I also loved your NESCBWI workshop–so much great material!!
I’ll be making a donation soon–good luck!!
Thanks!!
Hi Kate –
Do you need more book donations? I can donate copies of Memento Nora and Forgetting Curve.