“We are always getting away from the present moment. Our mental existence, which are immaterial and have no dimensions, are passing along the Time-Dimension with a uniform velocity from the cradle to the grave.” -H.G. Wells, The Time Machine
During last night’s Storytime With Wil, I unexpectedly noticed something pasted into the back cover of the thirty-five year old book. It was a little slip of paper, one of those ditto runoffs that they used in schools in the 80s, and it told us this book belonged to a kid named Dean, who was in Traverse City Junior High School. It was a child’s drawing of Snoopy, laying on his back, like he does on top of his dog house, only he was on the back of a book which was propped up like an open tent. Along the cover of the book long, skinny letters spelled out R. I. F.
R.I.F is Reading Is Fundamental. R.I.F. is a literacy program that makes a real, meaningful, positive difference in kids’ lives. My school didn’t have R.I.F. (it was a private, religious school, so we didn’t have a lot of the cool public school programs my friends had) but we had our own version of it. We read books, we’d accumulate points, and when we had a certain number of points, we could cash them in for a book of our own. I can’t say for certain, but I’d like to imagine that Dean, in 1981, cashed in some R.I.F points to get this particular copy of The Mystery of Chimney Rock.
I got unexpectedly emotional when I saw this little rectangle of paper, pasted into the back of this book, and I struggled to put my finger on exactly why, until someone in the chat said that it was like a time machine. It’s like someone was reaching through time, and touching my hands. It was this tactile, tangible moment, where I and the 480 or so people who were watching got to make a semi-personal connection with this kid, Dean, who owned and read this book in 1981. I wonder: did he make the same choices we made? How many of the 36 endings did he experience? Did he read it aloud? Did he have friends or siblings who he read with or to? Was he like me? Was he shy and awkward, finding escape and comfort and companionship inside the covers of this book and others like it?
I’ll never know, and I don’t want to know. I just love the mystery, and I love the connection. I love the continuity that exists between someone putting this book into Dean’s hands, thirty-six years ago, and it finding its way into my hands, last night.
So I had this idea to encourage the viewers to donate a book to R.I.F., either by purchasing one from their wishlist, or maybe by donating a book from their personal collection to a library, or a school. I just thought it would be cool to take the joy that I (and presumably some of the viewers) indirectly got from this R.I.F. program, and spread it around a little bit. Because the world is overflowing with sadness and despair right now, and we could maybe chip away at it, just a little bit.
I’d love it if you’d do something to promote literacy in your community, or make it possible to give books to some kids who don’t have the privilege and good fortune we have. We have no idea how we can touch and affect and change a life through a simple act of anonymous kindness, but maybe in thirty-six years, someone will pick up a book that one of us helped put into the hands of a child, and experience the same joy we all experienced last night.
I’m so glad I got to be a part of this. This week now tops my Storytime With Wil experience, beating out the time you read The Monster at the End of This Book. I’m thinking of both donating some books to my local library (it’s easy and free!) and buying a book from RIF’s wishlist.
Thank you so much for doing this, Wil.
First… ACK I can’t believe I missed this last night… crap, crap crap… stupid Stardew Valley.
Second, I LOVE the idea of encouraging people to give to reading programs as a part of Storytime with Wil. What about an annual event where we get you to livestream Storytime with Wil for 12 hours straight, as a big telethon fundraiser for reading literacy? I realize it moves this from a small little random community thing to something bigger, but I could see a tremendous amount of potential in it.
Keep up the great work!
Very moving, Wil. BTW, if anybody’s looking to reach out to a literacy organization, I’d suggest proliteracy.org. They support local literacy groups domestically and internationally – and they’re an awesome bunch of people. (I worked with them for 11 years – during which time I passed a poster every day with Patrick Stewart’s face on it. If Capt. Picard felt it was an organization worth promoting, how can you go wrong? 😀 )
Shoot, looks like the audio on your past readings on Twitch have the audio disabled for copyright reasons(?).
I play music in the intro for a few minutes. Skip past it, and the audio should be restored. If it isn’t, let me know and I’ll reach out to Twitch for help.
Yep that was it, there’s a delay of a few minutes for the audio. Thanks for posting, very enjoyable! I still have my CYOA books from 35+ years ago. 🙂
I’m glad I was able to be there when you found the slip of paper last night, it was so nice to see someone so genuinely excited by the connection reading causes between people.
A couple times a year we do a clean out of my house for old clothes and I try and get rid of books I know neither my brother or I will reread. We do a similar thing at school that I think is coming up again soon as well. As a high school student working on finding a job, donating is the best I can do as of now. Better then nothing.
Last night was definitely one of the best Storytime with Wil sessions we’ve ever had. Not only did we ‘win’ all three of our endings, but we came together a community to benefit RIF. Count one donation to RIF!
I found two brand new children’s books donated in our returns bin at the library this morning! I like to think that someone from the chat last night donated them, or someone was simply touched by the swarm of goodness your stream created. And if people can’t afford to donate, they can volunteer as a buddy reader at their local school/library/after-school program. Just learning about the literacy programs available and passing the info along to friends and family can make a huge impact!
Thank you for this. As a librarian who is currently in the midst of campaigning to support the Institute for Museum and Library Services (eliminated from the White House budget proposal, along with NEA, PBS, and many other essential services), any attention drawn to the importance of literacy and reading by someone with the public’s ear is a huge boon to us. Thank you for all that you do to emphasize the need for humans to connect and empathize with one another through the written word, and through story in all its varied forms.
This makes me so happy! Give him a big hug for me, and a high five. And I’m sorry about the language.
I don’t have kids, but I do have nieces and nephews. Mine are all old enough now that I speak to them essentially like adults. Which means you can use “curse words” all you want, as long as you know when not to, but you’d better not utter a racial or sexual slur. That is actually offensive, unlike a simple F word or whatever. Glad to see I’m not alone in this thought. Aussi, je parle francais, et votre mari est amusant. 😉
So I forgot this guy’s name and because LAZY, I didn’t bother looking for it and just donated to the Amazon wishlist from RIF. The kids joke book cuz laughing is living and Brown Bear Brown Bear because you are crying not me!!!
I’m not sure there is an equivalent of R.I.F. in the UK (I didn’t go to school here). I’ve been out all day and too tired to google extensively. However, there is http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/ which seems to be similar and they accept donations.
When I have a book clear-out, I usually donate them to my local library.
Those little time capsule things are wonderful. A few years ago, a photographer friend of mine bought an old camera at a yard sale and discovered it had still film in it. He developed the film and found photos of a family on a seaside holiday presumably sometime in the 1940s. He’s still looking for clues to finding that family (the person who sold the camera had found it in their attic when they moved into the house so didn’t know where it came from either, neither did the previous owner).
Last night was the first time i was able to join in because I had a day off today and could sleep in. Both books were great, especially The Mystery of Chimney Rock. Thank you so much for doing these, it’s huge fun.
Last night’s Storytime was so so special and I loved every moment of it. I’ve gathered some old books and when I find out what Central Library’s book donating policy is, I’ll be taking them over. (As I was writing this, I got an email saying a book of poetry I’d put on hold is in, so I’ll be taking them before the week is out for sure!) I LOVE finding things in books. I have a collection of the various things I’ve found in secondhand and library books. Personal favorites include a BEAUTIFUL fairy bookmark and what looks to be train ticket in possibly German. I am a dunce with languages (except Welsh which is just nonsense enough for me to comprehend it) and that is why I learned American Sign Language. Anyway! I agree with feeling that connection, which is what prompted me to think of that The History Boys (side note: my FAVORITE play in the known universe) quote I paraphrased, the full text is below.
“The best moments in reading are when you come across something–a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things–which you had thought special, particular to you. Now here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours.” -Alan Bennett
Since the whole quote is about reading something in a book that speaks your mind for you (a magical feeling in itself), I shortened it to work for the situation of finding something that someone else left behind in a book. That’s my favorite feeling and, yeah, it still feels like someone is taking your hand as if to say “I held this too, I felt much as you do now”. It’s the closest I’ve ever been to feeling like I was in the TARDIS.
Seriously, last night was magical in itself. Good books, good chat, everyone being so kind about my SAG card (which involved a LOT more paperwork than I expected when achieving a lifelong goal) and we all got so many different, but great endings. Even the one where we turn into a giant mouse and die. And, just because I would like it down in the record I CALLED THE CAT BEING THE OLD LADY CAAAAAAAAALLED IT 🙂
My grandmother was a Kindergarten teacher in the 50s, 60s, and 70s in Salinas, CA. She taught many kids from immigrant families, and she tried to help as many as she could in the short time she had them (which was sometimes only a few months). RIF helped her in many ways.
I hope I’m carrying on some of that legacy as a public librarian.
All to say, give! It does help!
Ya know, Wil, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation has a program called BookPals, where volunteers (union members like you, me, and apparently Beth Damiano above) read to local elementary school kids once or twice a week, as schedules permit.
I have only just dipped a toe into that particular pool, but now I’m motivated to follow up!
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS COMMENT I’MMA GO AND SIGN UP FOR THAT PROGRAM RIGHT NOW runs away in a cloud of dust and books
You have been kicked by Voxbot for 600 seconds.
I buy books for my grandkids from a wonderful bookstore called the Bookworm in Oroville, CA. Often there is a signature and a short message, and I wonder about the why and who. BOOKS!!! So special, and I love being able to continue reading to little ones and watch the wonder in their eyes! Keep up the great work, Wil!
First of all, totally love this. I’ve given many books to schools.
Secondly, I am in Las Vegas for a manager retreat for my job. This is my last night, I just saw “KA”, a wonderful Cirque de Soleil show, and decided to flip on the tv in my room. I’m staying at the MGM Grand, and who do you think I found when I was flipping channels? Tabletop!! So now I am watching you play Smashup from February. How cool a surprise!!
My wife and I have a Little Free Library in our front yard. The messages people leave in the guestbook–from ages 6 to 80–make us realize how important books are to many people. I hadn’t been to your site in a while, so I’m not familiar with Storytime. I’ll have to check it out sometime.
I saw an amazing show called Choose Your Own Documentary (http://www.cyod.co.uk/) which starts with a delivery of old CYOA books from ebay, all of which have the same name in the cover and some of which have notes in them. The audience then votes on what Nathan, our protagonist, should do with this information. And inevitably you vote to track down the former owner, now grown up.
It’s been turned into a book as well: The Boy In The Book by Nathan Penlington
My kids watch with me, too. They cheer, “YEAH WIL WHEATON!” when the stream starts. I love that it’s some thing we share and it encourages them to read. The kids will be getting some CYOA books of their own soon.
I missed the show, but maybe I can watch it online? After reading your post, I had a vision of you and LaVar Burton campaigning nationally for the power of books!
This is exactly why I came here to leave a comment. The single most memorable thing about RIF for me (I’m 47) is that Levar Burton did the ad campaigns for them (along with Reading Rainbow, right?) I kept expecting his name to come up in Wil’s post.
And so yes, consider me a “second” for the motion of a Wil Wheaton/Levar Burton collaboration to promote literacy!
😉
Wil, this post really gets to me. I have donated (wishlist)books to RIF in the past and plan to again. Thank you for this.
Hello Wil,
Your blog truly touched my heart! I am the Executive Director of Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California, and we have been distributing new, free books of choice to underserved children in Greater Los Angeles and Orange County for 45 years! So, it is very likely Mystery of Chimney Rock was a RIFSoCal book Dean chose to take home and keep 36 years ago! This program year alone we are serving 68,000 children and distributing close to 225K books – books children take home to keep as part of a growing home library – books to share and read together with their family – books to read just for FUN! I would love to share our program with you, as so many of our children feel as you do – they celebrate books as an “an escape and comfort and companionship.” Please visit our website at http://www.rifsocal.org to learn more about our program and reach out to me at 323-890-0876 or via email at [email protected].
Keep Reading,
Carol
I buy books often with the intent to read them and then give them to my local library. Not enough room in the house to keep them, and small enough town that it helps. I sometimes look for a book I want to read at the library first. If it’s not there, I buy it specifically for this purpose. Works out for everyone. 🙂
The convention I help run, MidSouthCon, is a 501(c)3 organization and our main charity is Literacy Mid-South, the regional literacy program of Memphis, TN and the surrounding areas. Thanks to the ENORMOUS generosity of our congoers, we have been able to raise >$50,000 for them in the last decade. This just staggers me to think about and makes me deliriously happy, and is one of the main reasons I work so hard on this con.
I grew up with a really small rural library and myself and the older girl I idolized read through ALL the syfy, fantasy and horse books. I would feel so cool and excited when I could write my name under hers in the old checkout slips. Over the years our lives overlapped a lot and we’re friends as adults. A few years back she sent me a text with a photo from the back of a book with the library borrow card with her name, mine and then some lines below…her daughter’s name.
How serendipitous! I LOVED the Black Stallion series and any of the very few limited Star Wars books I could find (Splinter of the Mind’s Eye). I was a syfy geek as well…Battlestar Galactica…Oh, wow, memories…The Little House books were a fave too. I read EVERY Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books my library had on file!
Here at my school, I was proctoring a state test (puh-lease don’t get me started) in another teacher’s classroom. After testing, the kids are allowed to read (and the teacher, too, if all test materials are picked up). I noticed a book that the teacher had sitting on a bookshelf near her desk, so I started to read it. I kinda got into it and when the day was done, I left a note asking if I could borrow the book to finish reading it. She came to me later and told me that it belonged to one of her students who left it there in case someone wanted to borrow it and she would ask him if it was okay if I borrowed it for a bit. The next day, she brought me the book and said he was over the moon that a TEACHER wanted to borrow his book! 🙂
Just watched the reply and kicked RIF $25.00. Great show, great cause. A number of years ago, I decided to sell my collection of 30-40 Star Trek novels, a mix of paperbacks and Sci Fi Book Club hardbacks mostly from the ’80s and ’90s. A girls, about 12, was poking through them and was deciding how many she could afford. I asked her how much she had to spend and she said something like ten dollars. I think I was asking a buck a book. I said, “you know, take them all. They’re just collecting dust here. But, you have to promise me: when you finish reading the books, give them to someone else to read. Books should be read.” She smiled, bagged them all, and fairly skipped off with her mom. This was like 13-14 years ago and I still recall it vividly. Great feeling.
Thanks for the link to RIF! I am so happy to be able to support a great program like this.
I volunteer with Reading Partners. It’s very rewarding. readingpartners.org