Disney Gives

5,000 Books to AAF Book Drive

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Disney Publishing Worldwide has donated 5,000 copies of Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom to the AAF and Books for Kids Inaugural Charity Book Drive. Moses, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, is an award-winning New York Times best seller that recounts Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and journey towards freedom in the North. The book was honored as a Best Book of 2006 by School Library Journal, The Miami Herald and Child Magazine. In addition, the book, published under the Disney-Jump at the Sun imprint, was a 2007 Caldecott Honor Winner and a 2007 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner.

"Disney is elated to assist the AAF in its effort to promote childhood literacy, and we hope that the story of Harriet Tubman's journey will inspire young readers," said Evelyn O'Gilvie, director of multicultural market development at the Walt Disney Company.

"This book drive is a success because of AAF members like the Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Company is a company built around a commitment to families and children, and this is one more indication of how strong that commitment is," said James Edmund Datri, AAF president and CEO. "Also, in the spirit of friendly competitiveness, we challenge the AAF's other members to match this extraordinary donation. I know many of our members continue to carefully select thousands of books as a part of our effort to help children, and I hope all will join us in this effort."

The AAF and Books for Kids book drive runs through Nov. 18. The AAF has asked all of its college chapters, club members and corporate members to donate new children's books in the category of kindergarten through third grade. Donations are being accepted from individuals, clubs, student chapters and corporate members.

The Walt Disney Company has been an AAF member since 2006, and the company is especially active in its support of AAF's multicultural programming. Each year, Disney sponsors a Mosaic Career Fair, and this year, the company also sponsored the Mosaic Awards.

For more information about the book drive, go to www.aaf.org/books.