Woman's nonprofit putting books in the hands of low-income children

Woman's nonprofit putting books in the hands of low-income children


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SALT LAKE CITY — When Dawn Houghton was a young girl, the neighborhood bookmobile was her lifeline.

“I remember the thrill of having access to the bookmobile that parked near a playground in my neighborhood," Houghton said. "My mom didn’t have a car, so the fact that any library came to me was more than a convenience.”

When Houghton was a teenager, her family lived in low-income housing projects in Magna and Granger, both served by the Salt Lake County Housing Authority. The only access she had to books was those loaned by neighbors — paperback thrillers and Mad magazines.

“That time for me was a drought when it came to books, especially summertime,” Houghton said.

“Looking back, I realize how desperate I was for reading material at that time," she said. "I borrowed 'Amityville Horror' and 'Rosemary’s Baby' from a single mom across the complex, and even read my mom’s collection of books on maturation.”

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Inspired by her own experiences, Houghton now helps put books into the hands of low-income children.

In November 2006, Houghton and author and columnist Ann Cannon, who work together at The King’s English bookshop, presented an idea to the Salt Lake County Housing Authority in which donated books would be delivered and given to children at the low-income housing projects. They called it Book Wagon.

“We explained that the best part was that the kids get to pick out and keep two free books at each visit," Houghton said. "We cited research that showed that the mere presence of books in a home helps improve a child’s literacy.”

One recent study, which asserts this claim, posted its findings in the spring of 2010 and was conducted over a 20-year period by sociologists from the University of Nevada, in partnership with UCLS and Australian National University. It is one of the most comprehensive studies ever conducted on what influences the level of education a child will attain.

The report on the study said, “For years, educators thought that the strongest predictor of attaining high levels of education was having parents who were highly educated.” But this massive study proved something else was far more important: having books in the home.

How you can help
If you would like to donate new or gently used picture books and chapter books suited to children age 5-12 to Book Wagon, please email Dawn Houghton at slcbookwagon@gmail.com.

The lead researcher, Mariah Evans, said, “Even a little bit goes a long way. Having as few as 20 books in the home still has a significant impact on propelling a child to a higher level of education.”

Book Wagon helps children who would otherwise not be able to afford owning books to take advantage of the benefits of reading. Cassandra Meyers, Prevention Services Coordinator with Salt Lake County Housing Services, said, “The families that come to us, mostly single moms, make less than $16,000 a year. The children absolutely love the Book Wagon program and adore getting to keep the books.”

Book Wagon serves nine housing complexes in Salt Lake County, delivering books about twice a year. At each visit, Houghton pulls a red wagon into a meeting room that each complex has set up as an after-school meeting place. The wagon has two boxes in it — one full of picture books and the other contains early reader chapter books. The children go through the books and choose two to take home and keep.

“Dawn [Houghton] relates so well with these children and understands how important the books are," Meyers said. "She’s created an amazing program.”

Since its inception, Book Wagon has collected more than 1,200 books and put them in the hands of more than 350 children.

“Ultimately, I want the children growing up in these communities to have plenty of books of their own,” Houghton said. She hopes to add a teenage program as well sometime in the future.

If you would like to donate new or gently used picture books and chapter books suited to ages 5-12 to Book Wagon, please email Dawn Houghton at slcbookwagon@gmail.com*.


*ksl.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does ksl.com assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.


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About the Author: Teri Harman

Teri Harman, author and book enthusiast, writes a biweekly column for ksl.com and also contributes book-related segments to Studio 5. Her debut novel, "Blood Moon," comes out June 22, 2013. Find her online at teriharman.com.*

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