Inside an invitation I received to a friend’s baby shower last month, the following note was enclosed:

We have a request and it’s really not hard, 
Bring baby a book in place of a card.
Whether Cat in the Hat or Winnie the Pooh
Sign the inside—with a message from you.
If we start early, there is hope, indeed
our little one will soon learn how to read.

As a children’s book author I was, of course, jazzed. But as a thinking kind-of-person living in a grand and global interconnected community, I was inspired about the promise one simple gift could bring to so many. What a wonderful opportunity to do something big… to make a difference.

Reading, like thinking, expands the heart and mind; it provides food for our thought and nourishment for our soul, spiritual sense. I thought about the truth behind a quote I saw posted on another author’s book page at the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) Bookstop (still going on, btw) by George RR Martin:

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” 

Yes, I think that’s true… at least it is for the book lovers I know. But the book we choose to gift a child can also bless and inspire more than just its young recipient. Think about it, in addition to entertaining the mind, a story that captures a child’s heart and imagination also nurtures a way of thinking… and acting. It supports his/her God-given desire to be good, love big, help others. The book we gift can help a child change the world for the better. That’s a trend we want to get behind.

So, next time you’re invited to a celebration—be it baby, birthday, or baptism:

In lieu of a card, bring your favorite kid’s classic,
A library of books is more than fantastic!
By signing your book, they’ll remember and share 
Your special gift, when you're not even there.