BURRILLVILLE – A national organization honoring a late longtime librarian recently brought their blessings to town, donating more than 1,000 books to Burrillville’s elementary schools.
Nana’s Books Foundation delivered the new reads to Austin T. Levy and William L. Callahan Schools, also delivering books to Jesse Smith Memorial Library.
With the knowledge that reading can provide a way to present difficult topics to kids, the Tennessee-based non-profit donates grade-appropriate books on Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other disabilities to public libraries and students in Title I schools across the country. The foundation was founded in 2020 to honor career librarian Nancy Dulniak, who died from Early Onset Alzheimer’s in 2021.
It began with a mission to make children aware of what their parents and grandparents may be going through when grappling with the disease, and has since benefitted hundreds of students with a selection of titles on topics from inclusion to family troubles.
“Books are a great resource to raise awareness and initiate conversations with children about difficult and sometimes uncomfortable topics,” the organization notes. “By providing grade-level appropriate books, we spread the awareness to this disease, supporting and increasing literacy and spreading kindness and compassion to students an their communities.”
Titles include Charlie & Frog by Karen Kane, which features American Sign Language, and Daniel’s New Friend by Becky Friedman, about a child who walks with braces.
In Burrillville, representative Jim Palmerie announced the donation during an assembly with students at Levy school.
“Reading helps to prepare you for your future,” Palmerie told the group assembled.
The organization came to town thanks to an effort by Burrillville School Department Title I Coordinator Ashley Raspallo, who coordinated the donation and visit.
“We are so grateful for Nana’s Books donation and for encouraging our students to read and learn about some important life topics,” Raspallo said.
Following the ceremony, Palmerie visited first grade classes and read Dancing with Granddad: An Alzheimer’s Story for Children and Their Families, written by Linda Bozzo and published by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
Donations from Nana’s Books are now also on display at Jesse Smith Library in Tinkham Lane in Harrisville.
To learn more about Nana’s Books Foundation visit nanasbooks.org.
