Yep, you read that right. When I first heard the news I thought the two companies were an odd match for something like this. But I soon realized that book programs don’t have to be limited to non-profits or bookstores or libraries. Any company can come up something. And then I also realized that JetBlue has been involved with getting books into the hands of children for years with their Soar With Reading Program.
But this year they’re changing it up a bit. They’re adding a #BookBattle to the mix. The battle is between five cities and the public is asked to vote online to decide which of the five cities should be given 100k books for children in need. I think that’s pretty great. The five cities are New York City, Detroit, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, and Houston. I don’t know how long the voting period will be open, but I do know it’s open right now. So if you don’t live in any of the five cities, then the choice you should make when considering which city to vote for is obvious, right? Houston! Duhh. Bring those books here! Please.
You can visit the Soar With Reading website here.
Also, JetBlue installed three book vending machines to dispense free books throughout the city of Washington D.C. this year. How cool are they? Have you heard of this program before?
Johnny Reads 
This is the first time I’ve heard of it. This is great! 🙂
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Yes!
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This is a great idea. I will attempt to vote but I am sure it will be closed to Canadians.
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Canadians shouldn’t be able to meddle in American matters.
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Hahaha. Good one!
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I mean, you don’t see Americans meddling in the affairs of other countries. Just stay out. And leave us to ourselves. And let us decide where these books should go. 😂
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Oh my goodness. Best laugh of the day so far. Yes, America is nothing if not great at not meddling in the affairs of other countries.
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We were taught a slogan in school that I’ll reveal now. “Americans in other countries is needed. Other countries in America is not.”
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Hahaha. You are on a roll today! That is a lovely slogan.
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One that is firmly entrenched within the American psyche. We’re not brainwashed or anything.
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Because that would require a brain of some sort. Hahaha. Someone get the sav ’cause you just got burned.
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That’s just rude. At least we don’t say eh all the time!
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Eh?
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You know I love America and especially Texas.
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How many Texans do you know? Probably Ted Cruz and no one else. Ugh. What a bad face for our state.
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Cruz was born in Canada. Not our finest export.
One of our dearest friends, Bert Almon, is Texan. He moved to Canada when he was a young man. He is a retired professor and a very accomplished poet. One of his books was titled “Texas Calling.”
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I know he was. Why did he leave this great state of ours for the frozen tundra known as Canada?
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He got a teaching position at the University of Alberta.
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Welp. That’s the end of my sarcastic remarks.
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This is really neat! I especially like the idea of the book vending machines.
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Yep. I wish I had one near me. 😞
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A great idea – but wht can’t they just give each of the cities 20k books each? Think of all those kids in the four losing cities who’ll miss out. 😦
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I disagree with this completely. Completely. They’re doing something great, something that other companies aren’t doing and you’re being critical. This is like me saying I’m volunteering at my local food bank and someone asking how come I’m not volunteering at another food bank too.
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I’m not critical, John – I think it’s an amazing thing for them to do. A lot of kids will derive huge benefit from it. I just feel sorry for the kids that’ll miss out -don’t you think it’s a shame for them? Of course, in an ideal world, all kids would get brilliant access to books 🙂
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No. 100k books is 100k books.
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Okay – it’s an agree to disagree moment 🙂 Maybe their good example will encourage other publishers to do likewise – that would be a win win situation.
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SO COOL!!! And, of course, I voted for Detroit.
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Yep. I guess that’s okay. You should have voted twice. Or ten times and given Houston a Vite it two or all of them.
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Maybe I’ll give Houston one or two votes. But Detroit is a a wreck and needs all the help it can get.
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Detroit needs a whole lot more than books.
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True story, but it’s a start.
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