Some of the Theta members who attended the Alpha Kappa State Fall Conference with Miriam Stannard Epstein (right).

Good morning! Welcome! If you are here to learn about Books to Dreams, then you are in the right place! It is an honor to be invited to present here today.

My name is Miriam Stannard Epstein or, as some children say, my “front” name is Miriam and my “back” name is Stannard Epstein, or, as my daughter Becca calls me, “Miss BTD with-a-bookmobile.” Speaking of names, my “front” name, Miriam, has always been difficult for people to pronounce. It becomes Marianne, Mildred, Marion … all beautiful names, but not my name.

So, when I turned 60, a few years ago, I gave up the struggle and now say, “My name is Miriam and people have trouble pronouncing it, so I’ll give you a choice. Since my favorite word and occupation is Mom, you may call me Mom.” And they do! Some of the women are about the age where they could be my children, and others are close to my age. It has evoked an amazing response in people.

One woman, in her forties, whom I have worked with for several years, always struggled with my name. We don’t see each other that often and so, I told her she could call me Mom. She said, “Really? I can call you Mom?” She looked at me with her eyes filled with tears. “Okay Mom, thanks Mom”, she said as she gave me a big hug. We often don’t know each other’s life stories. I wonder what her Mom story was and the others who choose to call me Mom.

Herein lies a true story about three different Moms and literacy. It starts with Anthony, a remarkable boy of 10 whom I have met in a homeless shelter a few years ago while presenting a BTD program. He and his younger twin brothers loved the programs, hearing the stories read and picking out books to keep. As soon as the program was over, they would get on the carpet or the couch, sprawled out, while they tuned out the world and read away.

Another shelter, another time, and there was Anthony and his twin brothers. One of the staff told me that when the boys arrived, one of the twins spotted the Books to Dreams poster and said, “Look! She’s here too! She’s everywhere we go!” That afternoon before I began reading the story in the living room at the shelter, the parents and children were all gathered on the couches. One of the twins quietly slipped off the couch, came over to me, cupped his hand next to my ear and whispered, “Tell me that we have known you the longest … Have we?” I smiled and nodded. His shoulders relaxed, he smiled and slipped back onto the couch. And once again it was another wonderful story time for everyone.

Another shelter, another time, and there they were, Anthony, his twin brothers…and a new baby brother. They were in the Safe Home at the Village for Families and Children in Hartford. The boys were living there in order to separate them from their Mom, for their safety. The twins once again burst out of their seats to hug me. Anthony, now almost twelve, stood up, smiled and waited patiently, beyond his years, for his brothers to finish. Anthony always watched over his brothers. When they were through, he offered me his hand and said in his calm way, “You probably don’t remember me, my name is Anthony.” I took his hand in mine and said, “Anthony, I will always remember you.”

When I was ready to leave that afternoon, I went over to Anthony and said, “I want to tell you my special story. I was here 60 years ago.” He looked into my eyes trying to figure it out. I knew Anthony was bright and I watched the expression on his face as he tried to comprehend. I waited. (He was probably thinking, “Was she here reading stories and giving out books? Sixty years ago – that’s a long time ago – I know she’s old, but ...”) THEN it struck him that I was saying that sixty years ago I was there as a child. The look of understanding in his eyes was wonderful. I wonder if he were thinking, “She’s grown up, she gives away books, she loves children, she’s happy, she has a car, she lives a normal life … and she used to live here.” I wonder if it gave him some comfort. I was there when my dear Mom was unable to mother me, my two sisters and my brother. At that time it was called the Children’s Village.

Jane came into my life about eight years ago. She has bought thousands of books (new and like new) at tag sales, collected them at home and then called me to set up a delivery. We became good friends and from the beginning I felt especially close to her. We’d talk about children’s books, our lives, being mothers, grandmothers, and in her case, great grandmothers. We’d talk about the Books to Dreams program as she was very interested in it. She would read the BTD updates cover to cover and would ask me about specific events.

Then when BTD lost its state funding, I had to find a new way to get books into the hands of children in need (New times, new paradigms). Of the eleven shelters where I had been presenting BTD programs throughout the state, I kept only two. BTD still provides children’s books for all of the shelters, on a regular basis. Jane asked me which two shelters I was keeping, and why. I explained that I was keeping Holy Family Home and Shelter in Willimantic because it was my first shelter, fifteen years ago, they are very good to me and it is my touchstone. I hope I will always be connected with them.

The other shelter was The Village for Families and Children in Hartford. Jane asked why I kept that one, and I hesitated because it was a tender subject. Then I said, “…because I was there sixty years ago.”

There was silence, after which Jane said, “What year was that?”

I replied, “Probably 1944 or 1945. I wasn’t there very long and I remember, vividly, the sunshine streaming into the window. It was one of those half basement windows, and I remember how pretty and cheerful the walls were, how many toys there were and how nice everybody was to me. I was about two or two and a half years old.”

Jane said, “I was there … I took care of the toddlers … and I probably took care of you.” Neither of us spoke as we thought about this amazing connection, so many years ago.

I then learned that Jane was just out of school and wanted to work with children. Her teacher suggested that she try working at the Children’s Village. Jane then asked, “Would you mind if I went with you the next time you present a program there?”

I told her it would be an honor and so she met me at my home. It was a teary, emotional moment for us as we hugged each other. We then drove to the beautiful, large campus. The Village is a large group of beautiful stone buildings that looks village like. As we drove up to the Safe Home building she said, “Is this where you present the program?”

I said yes. Jane took my hand and looked at me and said, “This is the building you lived in.” She took a small, square, old fashioned, photo from out of her pocket and held it so that I could see it was the same one.

Three Moms connected by literacy – Anthony’s Mom, my Mom and Jane ‘Mom’. I believe we are all Moms for the World. We are Moms to ourselves and Moms to everyone who needs a Mom. Whether or not you have your own children, every single one of you, because you are an educator, is a Mom to your students in so many ways. You are nurturing, caring MOMS WITH BOOKS! You are all committed to children and to literacy! In your classrooms, you are READING MOMS. And speaking of reading, I read something that was written about you, and I’d like us all to please read it aloud together.

I believe, if you do something from your heart for others, over and over and over, you will have created a small, but precious miracle.

In this work I have met the most amazing people. One of them is Mary O’Connor from Old Lyme, a published poet, among other things. Not only did she give a generous monetary donation, she volunteered for BTD and wrote a poem, especially for the program. (The butterfly is the symbol of BTD, Inc. and the slogan is, “Just like the butterfly, we all go through many changes before we are free to fly.”)

When Malcolm X’s oldest daughter was an adult, she was interviewed by a news reporter about her father. He interrupted himself and said, “Oh that’s right, you wouldn’t remember, you were very young.”

She stood in her beauty and dignity and replied, “Never underestimate the recollection of a child.”

I invite you all to visit the large display with many handouts as well as our wonderful new website (www.bookstodreams.org) for details about BTD. Here are a few interesting facts about BTD:

• BTD has been able to give over 220,000 donated books to children in need

• BTD has created and provided books for over 40 permanent children’s libraries including homeless shelters, Head Start programs, inner-city schools

• BTD provides books to over 100 organizations that help children in need

I saved the best BTD news for last. DKG has been very, very good to BTD!! The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Educational Foundation has provided Books to Dreams with book grants totaling $29,500! DKG at the International, National, State and local levels has been one of the most important reasons why BTD is successful. Theta Chapter has been most supportive through all of the years. Theta members who are especially supportive are: Sharon Bartlett, Marie DeSautels, Janet Haynes, Dee Hammon, Phyllis Hickey, Jeanne Morascini and Annette Murphy. Thank you everyone for attending.