STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The United Federation of Teachers and the non-profit "First Book" will be giving away 40,000 free books to Staten Island children Saturday. The new books, which are suitable for children ages four to 12 (pre-kindergarten to sixth grade), will be distributed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on a first-come basis, while the supply lasts....
The non-profit First Book, in partnership with the city's teacher union, plans to distribute 40,000 free children's books Saturday in Port Richmond. (Staten Island Advance/Irving Silverstein) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The United Federation of Teachers and the non-profit "First Book" will be giving away 40,000 free books to Staten Island children Saturday.
The new books, which are suitable for children ages four to 12 (pre-kindergarten to sixth grade), will be distributed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on a first-come basis, while the supply lasts. The giveaway will take place outdoors on the tennis courts at Port Richmond High School, 85 St. Joseph's Ave.
Participants need to register in advance with First Book.
The books are part of First Book's ongoing effort to provide new books to children in need. Teachers and community leaders will be able to pick up books for their students, and parents and kids will be able to select books for their home libraries.
The giveaway will include fiction and non-fiction; books will be available in both English and Spanish.
"When children see thousands of books laid out before them, they can't believe their eyes," said UFT President Michael Mulgrew, an Oakwood resident. "Once you give children a chance to pick out their own books, you have them hooked on reading," he said.
The event is a partnership between the UFT, the American Federation of Teachers, and First Book, with help from the New York State AFL-CIO and the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
A similar UFT/AFT/First Book event earlier this year in Queens distributed more than 40,000 books and drew hundreds of teachers, parents and children. To date the partnership has distributed more than 120,000 new books throughout the city.