Christmas kids book program expands on Island

Some Island food banks will have something extra in the Christmas baskets they deliver this year, as they start adding children's books to the parcels.

It's been done in the Charlottetown area for several years, and now the program has expanded to Summerside and Montague.

It's a thrill for Karen Mallet, with the Salvation Army in Summerside.

This is going to create more family time.- Karen Mallet, Salvation Army

"This year a lot of parents were asking for books to read with their children, so this is awesome," she said.

The program was set up by the PEI Literacy Alliance.

"It's wonderful, books in the home makes a huge difference," said Kate Dempsey, with the Literacy Alliance.

"There's research that shows that as few as 20 books in the home can improve the literacy levels of an entire family."

Until this Christmas, just the Upper Room Food Bank in Charlottetown was able to include books in the hampers.

Now, thanks to a partnership with the P.E.I. Public Library Service, the program has expanded to include Summerside and Montague.

Books can be donated at libraries

New and gently-used books are donated at libraries to help make this happen.

"Everychild does borrow books from the library, but it's even more special for that child when they receive one as a gift," said Hal Perry, P.E.I.'s minister of Education, Early Learning and Culture.

In Prince Countyabout 300 children will receive at least one book.

"I think a book is something that a a family can sit down and read, so I think this is going to create more family time as well," said Mallet. "If nothing else it's going to be another gift in the box for a child."

The Literacy Alliance estimates that more than 1,000 children's books were collected, and they hope even more can be rounded upfor next year.

Thegoal is to eventually expand the program so that every Island family that gets a Christmas hamper will receivebooks along with the food.