Reading during the summer helps kids maintain or even increase reading test scores — especially kids in low-income households. You can help stop the "summer slide" by donating to First Book, where $2.50 pays for a brand-new book for a child in need, and 97 percent of all revenue goes directly to providing books.

Amber Chapman of Family Matters With Amber, with Director of Early Literacy, John M. LePelley, M.Ed., of the Cleveland Literacy Cooperative, to bring parents some tips on helping your children with literacy. Check out her advice for instilling the habits with youngsters on her blog post New Year: New Habits to Help Reading.

If you don't know what to give your loved ones this holiday season, First Book has a suggestion:

How about the gift of reading to kids in need, in their name? Then let them know with one of these snazzy e-cards from First Book!

First Book, according to its website, "provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy – access to books. An innovative leader in social enterprise, First Book has distributed more than 100 million free and low cost books in thousands of communities."

Right now you can make a donation in honor of a loved one, and send an e-card notifying them a donation has been made in their name. Click here to donate to First Book and send a holiday e-card.

According to the donation site:

• Your tax-deductible donation to First Book will fund new books for children in need and help knock down the greatest barrier to literacy development in the United States and beyond — access to books.
• 97% of donations go directly to programming, providing new books for children in need.
• $50 = 20 books to give a year of bedtime stories to a family in need.

I know there are plenty of worthy charities to which you can make a donation for the holiday season, but this is definitely one to consider if you are passionate about literacy.

(Also, if you've been having trouble thinking about what to get me for Christmas, a donation to this organization in my honor would be a worthwhile investment.)

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Odds and Book Ends features activities and events in the area related to libraries, books and authors. Send your events to Community@News-Herald.com or submit it at www.News-Herald.com/Calendar, and check back to The Book Club every week for upcoming events and activities at your local library.


Entries in the fifth annual juried art show sponsored by the Geauga Council for Arts and Culture are on display during regular library hours through Aug. 20 at Geauga West Public Library, 13455 Chillicothe Road.


“Ten Steps to Living with Lupus” meets at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16 the Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Reservations are required for each step. For details call 440-717-0183.


The Friends of Madison Public Library will sponsor “A Night at the Winery” with music, food and beverages 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 16 at Grand River Cellars Winery, 5750 S. Madison Road, Madison. A $25 ticket can be purchased at the library, and includes appetizer buffet, wine, beer, lemonade and iced tea. This event is open to anyone who would like to show their support for Madison Public Library. For details call 440-428-2189.


Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine will sign copies of his book “Mustaine” A Heavy Metal Memoir” at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Legacy Village in Lyndhurst. In the book, Mustaine “describes his early, crazy days as a founding member of Metallica,” according to a news release from the store. Line tickets are required for the event; the tickets are given out with a purchase of “Mustaine” at Joseph-Beth. The store is located at 24519 Cedar Road. For information, call 216-691-7000 or visit josephbeth.com.


"Twilight" Trivia Night for ages 12 through 18 will take place at 7 p.m. Aug. 18 at Mentor Public Library. Test your "Twilight" knowledge against other fans. Sign up as a team or play on your own. Winners will receive "Twilight" prizes. Refreshments will be served. Registration is required. For details, call 440-255-8811, ext. 220, or visit www.mentorpl.org.


Burton Public Library will celebrate its 100th birthday at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 at the library in Burton Village. Music will be provided by the Hiram Rapids Stumblers. Home-made ice cream and cake will be provided. Bring a lawn chair. In case of rain, the party will be inside the library.


All Geauga County Public Libraries will be closed Aug. 20 for a staff in-service day.
The libraries will reopen at 10 a.m. and the stations at noon Aug. 21.
Geauga County Public Libraries are Bainbridge, Chardon, Geauga West, Middlefield, the Bookmobile, and the Newbury and Thompson library stations.


The Borders Creekside Commons has launched a book drive as part of a chain wide effort to increase literacy among kids. Until Aug. 30, store associates will encourage customers to donate enriching books including titles from the Junie B/ Jones, Magic Tree House and Ramona and Beezus series, as well as picture books for very young readers. The store has partnered with The Salvation Army, which will receive and distribute the donated books to needy kids within the community.
During the book drive it had in March, the store collected about 600 books and plush toys and provided them to Forbes House. The company as a whole delivered more than 600,000 titles and 85,000 stuffed toys to kids in need nationwide.


-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com