Ever wonder what community groups do with the Borders gift cards they receive from First Book? The First Book Advisory Board in East Pierce County, Washington recently wrote us a first-hand account of how one of the groups they granted to is putting a Borders gift card to great use.

The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) and Head Start program in Tacoma, WA purchased the old favorite Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina, for all of the young students in their program. Not only are the children reading the books and then taking them home, the instructors are introducing creative activities that bring the story’s lessons to life.

First published in 1940, the book tells a story about a peddler who carries a tall stack of caps on his head. Unable to sell a single cap, the peddler walks out to the countryside and lies down for a nap under a tree. When he wakes, he discovers that the caps have disappeared and looks up to see an entire tree-full of monkeys wearing them.

You’ll have to read the story to find out if the peddler can outwit the monkeys to get the caps back!

One class decorated their own caps and took turns acting as the peddler and the monkeys. The “monkeys” had to mimic the actions of the peddler. Another class wore their caps while reading the book, made fake money to exchange for the caps and, finally, balanced as many caps as they could on their heads.

Vibrant programs like these instill a love of reading into the hearts and minds of children. Thanks to First Book-East Pierce County and ECEAP and Head Start in Tacoma for sharing their story as well as to Borders and its customers, for making these grants possible.

Book by book, we are giving children the opportunity to envision a bigger world and see themselves as part of it.

Join us!

1. Find out how to join or start a First Book Advisory Board in your community,
2. If you work with a community group interested in being part of the First Book network and receiving books and book grants, register your group with First Book.
3. Donate to First Book. Every $2.50 helps First Book put one brand-new, age-appropriate book into the hands of a child in need.