Pat Norris has loved books since she was a kid and wanted to share that affinity for reading with the youth of today.

In January of 2021, the Covenant Living at the Shores resident gathered a group of neighbors and unveiled the Children’s Book Project from Mercer Island, which is now a nonprofit and has given 250 books to children at Seattle’s Primm Day Care Center, Wellspring Family Services and Atlantic Street Center.

The initial distribution of 20 copies of “Heroes Wear Masks” to one Primm classroom kicked off the project, which grew out of the book club that Norris is involved with on the Island. Currently, about 35 individuals and several groups contribute membership fees of $40 to purchase the books, which are geared mainly for preschoolers. The books are ordered on discount from Island Books, which project member Lola Deane founded 50 years ago.

As the 501c3 project grows, every child receives a book each quarter with their name written inside to signify ownership. The chosen titles tie in with the curriculum they’re delving into at the centers. Books include “All About Weather,” “The 12 Days of Kindness,” “The ABCs of What I Can Be” and “Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt.”

“The hope is that they will take it home and read it with their family and their siblings and parents,” said Norris, adding that they are addressing the “book deserts” in Seattle where kids are unable to receive transportation to libraries.

Deane said that many of the families at the centers are economically challenged, adding that, “Our goal was to have diversity of age, we started with the preschoolers, but to have diversity of nationalities.”

Other project members are Judy Ginn, Gail Layman, Mary Lu Sansburn and Arlene Nelson, all of whom live at the Shores with Norris and Deane.

The members touch base with the teachers to discuss classroom curriculum and when the books will arrive at the centers. Due to privacy and COVID-19 issues, members aren’t in direct contact with the students, but Deane and Sansburn said they’ve seen some kids’ eyes light up when they’re playing outside on delivery day.

Ginn said that Wellspring’s head of preschool told her that “12 Days of Kindness” had an immense impact on the students.

Layman added: “I just love to see the pictures that we’ve gotten of the children and they’re so excited to have these books, and I just think it’s a wonderful thing.”

Sansburn said that when children read books, it stimulates their imagination.

“Plus, they tell stories, like the ‘Kindness.’ Because we see so much dysfunction in the world, it’s nice to see the kindness,” she added with a smile.

Coming full circle, Deane said that 50 years ago Mercer Island residents and churches began building bridges to help others. In fact, the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Mercer Island assisted the Primm Tabernacle AME Church in the Rainier Valley in establishing Primm Day Care Center.

For more information on the book project, email patnorris75@comcast.net.