Have you seen The Great American Read on PBS? Meredith Viera hosts this series of specials to uncover America’s 100 best loved books. The objective is to find the #1 most beloved book of the American people. Viewers vote for their favorites -  everything from Don Quixote to Harry Potter to The Great Gatsby. And yes, Fifty Shades of Gray. Perusing the list, I came across Alexander Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. Being retired (hooray), I decided to read this classic.

OMG- talk about a braided narrative – this could be an entire Persian rug! It’s 1425 pages of so many characters with French names, first and surnames, along with titles that change throughout the story and filled with twists and turns. Would this manuscript get published today? Probably not – at least not in this version.

But, it gives me confidence that my Bitter Sugar (braided narrative Baton Rouge sugar plantation circa 1860) at 354 pages, at least has a chance. Not that I am comparing myself to Dumas – no, never. He’s in a class of his own. Rather, I am honored to be in his company – in my own mind, at least, if not on the NY Times Best Seller List...yet.

If you were fortunate enough to read a bedtime story with a parent or loved one, remember how special and safe you felt as a child? What if you had the opportunity to give that experience to a needy child in foster care, homeless shelters, or whose parents are incarcerated? Well, how great is this? You can! 

​I want to introduce you to the Pajama Reading Program, a national initiative that provides children in need with the opportunity to spend an hour reading a book with a caring adult at the program center. After reading and a snack, each child is given a new pair of pajamas and a book of his choice to take home from the program's bookshelf. AND, transportation is provided to and from the center! Isn't that lovely?

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Duona Hunter, Reading Center Program Manager for Atlanta.  She was delighted to receive my donation of 50 copies of My Dog, Me, and it was my pleasure to bring them to the center. These books will be distributed to other centers in Georgia so that young readers may enjoy the adventures of Tyler and Dundee as they experience life in the body of another species. 

For more information about how you can help, please contact the Pajama Reading Program.

“It takes a village to raise a child.”
​I love you all ~ RP