Deal on children’s books benefits book recipient and others

• By GREG LANGLEY
• Books editor
• Published: Jul 6, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 am

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Saving money is a good deal. Saving money and helping someone else at the same time is an even better deal. Kohl’s Department Store is offering shoppers a chance at that better deal.

The chain is selling hardcover reprints of classic children’s literature for $5 a book — this month’s selections are four books from the wildly popular collaborations of author Bill Martin and illustrator Eric Carle. The four books, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? and Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? normally sell for $8 or more. Here’s the helping part: the books are part of Kohl’s Cares for Kids®, an eight-year-old program in which the company earmarks profits from the sale of the books and the accompanying plush animals for initiatives such as injury prevention, immunizations and education programs for diabetes, asthma and childhood obesity, among others.

The company vows 100 percent of the net profits from the sale of Kohl’s Cares for Kids merchandise will be donated to support health and educational opportunities for children. The folks over at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital here in Baton Rouge know all about that. According to Kelly Zimmerman, OLOL spokesperson, from July 2007 to now, Kohl’s department stores in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, through the Kohl’s Cares for Kids program, provided more than $20,000 in direct financial and in-kind support to Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.

The money goes to very specific uses, Zimmerman said. It was earmarked for community outreach. Kohl’s Cares for Kids dollars were used to support existing child passenger safety programs in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette communities. The Kohl’s Cares for Kids program dollars allowed both communities to expand services to “special needs” children. The program provides loaner car seats to children with special needs who are awaiting approval for insurance reimbursement on permanent “special needs” car seats. The Kohl’s Cares for Kids program has also provided car seats and booster seats for children in the community whose families would have had difficulty affording seats. Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, Kohl’s, the Safety Council LCA, and the Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force are joint partners in supporting the Car Seat Fitting Station at the Safety Council LCA on Siegen Lane in Baton Rouge.

Karen Ahmad is the injury prevention nurse for the Children’s Hospital and also a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician who helps to staff the Safety Council Fitting Station. Ahmad said she believes that during 2007-2008 huge gains for our community were realized in child passenger safety thanks to the Kohl’s program.

Ahmad urges all parents, grandparents, and anyone who transports children to take advantage of car seat fitting assistance available within the community. To make an appointment at the Safety Council call (225) 282-3281. The service is free; the peace of mind is priceless.

The Martin/Carle books are from Henry Holt Publishers. They are sturdy enough to withstand a toddler’s attention and bright and colorful enough to attract that attention.

At EBR Library
Potterstock 2008: You think that you are the ultimate Harry Potter fan — but have you heard of Wizard Rock? Join the Library for Potterstock 2008! Four mystical bands will take the stage 2-5 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at the Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. The Remus Lupins, Draco and the Malfoys, the Whomping Willows, and Justin Finch Fletchley will rock your muggle socks off! The concert is free and open to the public.

For more information, call (225) 231-3770.

BooM! science fun for teens: Greenwell Springs Road Regional Branch Library’s Rockin’ Teen Library Council is sponsoring a Science Day at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, featuring several “experiments” for teens to perform. Teens will be able to make their own mini-rockets, lava lamps, slime and much more. Participants are asked to wear old clothes.

Teens can complete several fun science experiments including the famous Mentos/Coke explosion at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, at the Jones Creek Regional Branch Library, 6222 Jones Creek Road.

For more information and to register, call either participating library.

Space fun: Children, ages 3 and up, can visit the stars with MARS! The Mobile Astronomy Resource System will be at four libraries in July. Chris Kersey, the manager of the BREC, LSU, BRAS Highland Road Park Observatory, will talk to children about the solar system. Following the presentation, children will be able to look through an optical telescope for solar viewing, as well as view several space displays and demonstrations.