Oh MG News

Book Drive for Children: Doctors of the Americas (DOTA) is a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian relief including health care, vision care, dental hygiene education, and clothing donations to impoverished communities in El Salvador, Central America.

DOTA’s founders, Dr. Andrew Badulalk and his wife Stephanie Badulak, are cousins of MUF contributor Phyllis Shalant. MUF is joining with Phyllis to reach out to our friends in children’s publishing who’ve written in or had books translated into Spanish to donate copies for the children DOTA serves.

To donate, please message the Badulaks here: doctorsoftheamericas@gmail.com

DOTA serves Salvadoran children in need.

Congratulations to MUF contributor Samantha Clark for her  SCBWI Crystal Kite award! Samantha won for her book, THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST (Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster), which was released about a year ago, on  June 26, 2018.

The Crystal Kite is a huge honor because it is a peer-given award, with each winner chosen by members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Samantha’s chapter, the Austin SCBWI, also had a winning title last year.

Celina is one of the many towns recently devastated by the record-breaking string of tornados that ripped through Ohio on Memorial Day. In Celina alone, more than 50 families lost their homes – completely. Immediate needs are being taken care of, but there are still ways we in the kidlit community can help – primarily with BOOKS.

One of our MUF contributors, Michelle Houts, lives in Celina, and she is collecting NEW children’s BOOKS–Board books, Picture Books, MG, and YA–and working with the local school principal to identify recipients and distribute books to homes that lost favorite books and entire home libraries.

One of Michelle’s friends found two pages from a picture book inside the bushes of a damaged home–Water Dance by Thomas Locker.

Michelle says, “Please help my community find their rainbow. Thank you in advance. #KidlitForCelina”

HOW TO HELP:

* For instructions on where to send your contributions, please message Michelle here:  michelle@michellehouts.com.
* Any book contributions that don’t find an individual reader will go to Celina school libraries.
* Books will be distributed mid-late July. The displaced families don’t have much space or storage right now.

If you are an author or illustrator sending your own books: Please sign your book/books!