by Nicole Fitzgerald

Spare change can have a powerful impact on children.

A little jingle in a jar can help promote language, literacy and brain development thanks to the 2nd Annual Books for Babies program, which has partnered with the Whistler Writers Festival, to raise funds for new picture books for children of the Lil’wat Nation.

“The festival has generously agreed to match up to $500 for every dollar raised,” said Nicole Fitzgerald, organizer for Books for Babies. “We hope to go on a shopping spree at Armchair Books this year with $1,000 to spend.”

The 2nd annual Books for Babies drive is raising books for Lil’wat Nation children in two ways: the Whistler Writers Festival matching program is helping raise money for new picture books. Local moms have also been donating secondhand picture books as well. Books for Babies hopes to help create a lifelong love of reading by helping grow home libraries so books are always within baby, toddler and young children’s reach.

“My three-year-old daughter’s love of reading is a direct reflection of our shelves stocked with books,” said Fitzgerald. “Every child deserves this advantage, but may not because of economical reasons or because a family lives in a remote community with no public transit – and therefore a library becomes harder to access.”

Monetary donations can be made at Armchair Books, The Loft Salon and The Crystal Lodge Art Gallery in Whistler. Or online at https://chimp.net/groups/books-for-babies. Armchair Books is also hosting a satellite book store at the Whistler Writers Festival where new picture books can be purchased and dropped off in donation bins.

The 15th annual Whistler Writers Festival runs October 13-16. Visit whistlerwritersfest.com for details.