The power of the written word: Book Fairies hands out thousands of books free in Freeport

Dressed in white slacks and a black T-shirt with the words “Book Nerd” across the front, Bellmorite Amy Zaslansky was all smiles as she handed out books to preschoolers and kindergartners at the Columbus Avenue Early Childhood Center in Freeport last Friday.

Through her nonprofit organization Book Fairies, which she founded five years ago, Zaslansky and her team of volunteers have handed out some 700,000 books to children in need.

Yes, 700,000.

Zaslansky clearly believes in the power of books. She quickly rattles off a series of statistics found on the dosomething.org website:

Sixty-six percent of students who cannot read by the fourth grade wind up in jail or prison or on welfare.

Seventy percent of inmates are illiterate.

Ninety percent of high school dropouts end up on welfare.

Zaslansky, 43, the mother of three, notes that children from low-income neighborhoods are significantly less likely to have books at home — but home is where children start to learn to read. She created Book Fairies, she said, to put books into the hands of children in need — always free of charge. The group started small, but now gives away books throughout Long Island and in New York City.

The books come from drives that Zaslansky and her volunteers organize at schools throughout Nassau County. For many of the children who receive books through Zaslansky’s organization, “they are the first books that they will ever own,” she said.

Cleopatra Panagiosoulis, the Columbus Avenue principal, agreed. She said the school recently held a Scholastic Book Fair, sponsored by the PTA. Books are sold at Scholastic fairs, and they can, at times, be pricey. Fewer than five children in each class arrived at school with money for books, Panagiosoulis said, and when they did, often they had only a couple of dollars in their pockets, not enough to buy much.

The books that the children receive through Zaslansky’s group, the principal said, give the children “a sense of pride and ownership.”

At Zaslansky’s fair, Panagiosoulis was chatting with Presley Schneller and Allahna Lindsey, pre-school students in head teacher Patricia McClafferty’s class, when Allahna suddenly announced, “She’s my best friend,” speaking of Presley, and the two giggled.

The children often beam when they receive their books, which they hug tightly, Zaslansky said.

“If kids can’t learn how to read,” Zaslansky said, “then they’re never going to change their status in life.”

Book Fairies has a warehouse at 70 N. Main St. in Freeport, in the rear of the building. Each month the organization gives away thousands of books to teachers and non-profit organizations. Last month the group handed out 17,000 books in three hours. Reservations are required. There is a $10 charge to make a reservation. Otherwise, all of the books are given out free.

The next giveaway will take place June 11 from 10 to 2 p.m.

Zaslansky also distributes books to adults at the Freeport Long Island Rail Road station and Compare Foods on the north side of Freeport. Her hope, she said, is that parents will take the books home and delve into them, thereby modeling reading for their children.

Book Fairies is now seeking grants, corporate sponsorships and monetary donations to expand its operations, Zaslansky said. For more, go to www.thebookfairies.org.