Pennies Promise Poetry. Dollars Deliver Dreams.

Pennies promise poetry.

Dollars deliver dreams.

A buck can buy a book and books change lives.

Instead of asking "a penny for your thoughts", we're asking you to put your two cents in by donating a dollar to Ethiopia Reads during the month of May in celebration of our fourth anniversary.

Ethiopia Reads was founded in May 2003 by Yohannes Gebregiorgis after he realized how much even one book changed his life. Our mission is to develop a reading culture in Ethiopia by connecting children with books.

Be a part of our efforts to put books into the hands of every Ethiopian child by participating in our give a buck campaign. That same dollar may not travel far here but just imagine all the stories it can tell in Ethiopia.

Thank you. "Amesegenallo."

For more information: visit www.EthiopiaReads.org.

You can donate to Ethiopia Reads and its’ current and future projects by visiting the EthiopiaReads.org website and donating through Paypal.
The Paypal button is on the left side of the page. Your donation will be secure and is tax-deductible as allowed by law.

If you prefer you can mail your donation to:
Ethiopia Reads
50 South Steele Street, Suite 325Denver, Colorado 80209

Should you have any questions or concerns about EthiopiaReads, please contact Katie Douglas at katie@ethiopiareads.org or Catie Dupont at catie@ethiopiareads.org.

CJ Brady Designer Hand Bags on SilverChicks.com

Gorgeous Cream and Black Leopard Print Purse with Fluffy Black Accent and Black fabric handles with a 12 inch drop and a magnetic snap closure.

For your convenience, there are two inside pockets on one side of the purse. The purse measures 8 inches x 11 inches. This purse is made of high quality designer fabrics and is double interfaced. Using heavy interfacing on the inside and outside fabrics gives the purse both body and firmness and designer appeal and quality. This purse will stand alone.

More CJ Brady bags are available on SilverChicks.com and on Amazon.com - search for SilverChicks.

Traveling to Ethiopia? Join the TAKE ONE BOOK Campaign

Take One Book Literacy Campaign for Ethiopia

One book can change a life. That is what Ethiopia Reads founder Yohannes Gebregiorgis discovered at 19 years of age when he held his first book. Now you have the opportunity to change a life through Ethiopia Reads’ “TAKE ONE BOOK” campaign. In recognition of the Millenium celebration in Ethiopia this year we are committed to donating at least 2,000 books to children in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia Reads, founded in 2003, works to improve literacy and create a culture of reading in Ethiopia. We do this by planting libraries and publishing books in local languages as well as offering continuing education programs to help educators in Ethiopia nurture a love of reading.

Since Ethiopia Reads opened Ethiopia’s first free children’s library in 2003, thousands of children have experienced the joy of reading. The library received 60,000 visits to the library in 2006. Ethiopia Reads sees first hand the difference that one library, ONE BOOK, and one story can make in the life of a child.

If you or someone you know is traveling to Ethiopia during 2007, Ethiopia Reads challenges you to TAKE ONE BOOK with you, because we believe that education is hope and books can change lives. Books can be dropped off at the Shola Children’s Library in Addis Ababa. Shola is located in Beklo-Bet, behind the Dashen Bank off of Debre Zeit road.

If you are not traveling this year but want to make a difference in Ethiopia, we are collecting books in Washington, DC to send over with other travellers. Books can be dropped at Zethiopia’s office at 11th and U Street, NW.

For more information on the TAKE ONE BOOK campaign, please contact Catie Dupont at catie@ethiopiareads.org or Katie Douglas at katie@ethiopiareads.org.

WILL YOU TAKE ONE BOOK?

Suggested book list:

1. Any type of non-fiction books are appreciated. The kids wear out the DK type books with nicely detailed pictures.

2. Suggested fiction titles:

· Baby Baboon
· Crafty Chameleon
· Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears, by Verna Aardema
· Bringing the Rain to Kaputi Plain
· Anansi Does the Impossible
· Kaldi and the Dancing Goats, the story of Ethiopian Coffee
· Anansi and the Talking Melon
· Anansi the Spider
· Babu’s Song
· Fatuma’s New Cloth
· My Rows and Piles of Coins
· Once Upon a Time
· What’s Cooking Jamela
· The Day Gogo Went to Vote
· Silly Mammo
· Aida
· Kings and Queens of West Africa
· Sundiata: The Lion King
· Seven Spools of Thread
· Journey to Jo’Burg
· Saba: Under the Hyena’s Foot
· Storytellers’ Beads
· Moonlight Bride
· The Dark Child: The Autobiography of an African Child
· The Other Side of Truth
· Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope
· Weep not Child
· Song of Lawino, Song of Ocol
· Purple Hibiscus
· So Long a Letter
· Nervous Conditions
· No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
· The Magic Gourd
· Bintou’s Braids
· My Great Grandmother’s Gourd
· Tutankhamen’s Gift
· No Turning Back
· Hatshepsut: His Majesty Herself
· Year of No Rain
· Many Stones
· The Ugly Goddess
· Beduin’s Gazelle
· Mother to Mother
· Midaq Alley
· Dreams of Trespass

Visit www.janekurtz.com for more children’s books related to life in Africa.

Antique Venetian Trade & Bohemian Glass Bracelet - Blue Hues

The bracelet measures 8 1/4 inches.

This gorgeous bracelet is truly one of a kind, featuring antique beads from the African trade, bali .925 and shiny sterling silver components. Accented with stunning swarovski crystals and finished with a .925 sterling silver toggle clasp, this bracelet is a piece of art.

This bracelet consists of eleven gorgeous antique Venetian trade beads, including bohemian vaseline turquoise glass beads, medicine man beads, trail decorated black beads - all from the African trade.

There is a wonderful selection of African inspired jewelry on SilverChicks.com - each piece unique and one-of-a-kind. You can own and wear a piece of history.

Exotic Afternoon - Handmade Custom Necklace by Aziza

A SPICEY 30" ONE-OF-A-KIND NECKLACE COMPOSED OF LAMP WORK BEADS, CZECH BEADS, PARTY BEADS , KAZURI BEADS AND SMALL ROUND CZECH BEADS. YES, IT HAS EVERYTHING IN IT AND FROM THE THE WORLD CORNUCOPIA OF BEADS AS DO MOST OF MY NECKLACES. AND IT'S ON PURPOSE TOO. I BRING AS MUCH TOGETHER IN HARMONY AS I CAN TO DELIGHT THE WEARER AS WELL AS THE OBSERVER.

THE KAZURI BEADS ARE HAND MADE AND HAND PAINTED IN KENYA AND THE OVAL LIKE SPOTTED BEADS ARE HAND BLOWN LAMP WORK BEADS FORM THE US. THE PARTY SPARKLY SQUARE BEADS ARE FROM CHINA AND THE 4MM BEADS WHICH PULL THE WHOLE ENSEMBLE TOGETHER ARE FIRE POLISHED EUROPEAN BEADS.

A MEETING OF THE WORLD AND THE SPLENDORS OF THEIR MUSIC AND COLOR COMBINATIONS TO WEAR WITH ANY KIND OF OUTFIT. OH, AND I ALMOST FORGOT, THE ROUND 8mm BEADS MUST TAKE A BOW - THEY ARE RAKU FROM GREECE.

"Parasol" - Chris Cart -Giclee print - signed and numbered - available on SilverChicks.com

"Parasol", a giclee print by Chris Cart of Maine from the original watercolor. The print is signed and numbered by the artist. Printed on archival watercolor paper. A limited edition of 100. (image size: 14.5 x 11 inches; paper size: 17.5 x 13 inches)

Christopher Cart American (born 1961)
Christopher Cart's most recent major work is a 40 by 6 foot mural, a composition of color and movement with 22 almost life-sized dance figures showing strength in human form. Throughout his career he has painted other murals, countless watercolors and oils, portraits in both oils and watercolors and illustrations for many books and periodicals. His professional career encompasses virtually every aspect of the visual fine arts.

Christopher Cart studied art and art history at the University of Washington, Seattle and Coker College, South Carolina. After leaving school he began selling his paintings and sculptures at several galleries in the Seattle area. Now he is represented by galleries in his native New England region.

From the late 80's and into the 90's Christopher Cart illustrated six of the best selling Frugal Gourmet cookbooks and since that time he has created art for many other books and hundreds of illustrations for publications. Most recently his work has been published as book covers for many classics of American literature, including Lydia Bailey and Northwest Passage. And he is working on a fully illustrated edition of one of his personal favorites, Moby Dick by Melville.

Cart received the official commission for the portrait of Maine Chief Justice Daniel Wathen which was unveiled at a ceremony in the Superior Court in the State Capital in the spring of 2001.

In 2005 Cart was invited to contribute a portrait for the Portraits of Conscience exhibit sponsored by Amnesty International and the Lincoln Street Center. This portrait is now part of a traveling exhibit which can be seen at the University of Maine, Augusta through October and November 2005.

Two paintings, a watercolor and an oil, were recently included in the Contemporary Realism Exhibit at the Centre for the Living Arts in Mobile, Alabama.

The Venezuelan Consulate on 5th Avenue, New York City hosted the Representing Reality exhibit which included three lyrical oil portraits from Cart's series of young musicians.

Christopher Cart's watercolor, Sunday Walk, was featured in The Art of Maine in Winter,by art critics Carl Little and Arnold Skolnik, a book featuring many of Maine's top artists both old and contemporary.

Gallery Representation: Clark House Gallery, Portland ME; Harbor Square Gallery, Rockland, ME: Mast Cove Galleries, Kennebunkport, ME.

Antique African Trade Bead (Venetian) & Sterling Silver Bracelet

The bracelet measures 7 1/2 inches. This gorgeous bracelet is truly one of a kind, featuring antique beads from the African trade, bali .925 and shiny sterling silver components. Accented with stunning swarovski crystals and finished with a .925 sterling silver toggle clasp, this bracelet is a piece of art.


This bracelet consists of ten gorgeous antique Venetian trade beads, including a millefiore bead, bohemian vaseline glass bead, a medicine man bead, a double row red white heart bead - all from the African trade.


There are more unique and one-of-a-kind African inspired jewelry pieces on SilverChicks.com - don't you want to wear history?

One of a Kind Antique Trade Bead Bracelets from SilverChicks

The bracelet measures 7 7/8 inches.

This gorgeous bracelet is truly one of a kind, featuring antique beads from the African trade, bali .925 and shiny sterling silver components. Accented with stunning swarovski crystals and finished with a .925 sterling silver toggle clasp, this bracelet is a piece of art. This bracelet consists of nine gorgeous antique venetian trade beads, including millefiore, bohemian vaseline glass, and a melon chevron bead from the African trade.

You can find more Jewelry inspired by unique and one-of-a-kind African components on SilverChicks.com. Each component is hand chosen to create a wearable piece of art and history.

New Bracelets on SilverChicks.com - Antique Venetian Trade Bead and Sterling Silver Bracelet

The bracelet measures 8 1/4 inches. This gorgeous bracelet is truly one of a kind, featuring antique beads from the African trade, bali .925 and shiny sterling silver components, stunning swarovski crystals and a .925 sterling silver toggle clasp. This bracelet consists of seven gorgeous antique venetian trade beads, including millefiore and chevron beads from the African trade.

You can find this bracelet and other wonderful jewelry inspired by African components on SilverChicks.com and on Amazon - search for SilverChicks.

Golden Kuraz Winning Book - Miti Mittiti

The picture on the left shows Author, Mary Jaafar with Executive Director of Ethiopia Reads, Yohannes.


An English translation of Miti Mittiti, the Golden Kuraz winning book, is now available, prepared by Board member Chris Kurtz. EthiopiaReads.org gave the Golden Kuraz award during Book Week in April, 2005. It was made possible through donations given in memory of Chris Saad, who was a book lover, and Mary Eyerus, who still loves books. A kuraz is a small tin can lamp that brings a glow to the dark inside of rural houses in Ethiopia.

We hope this award will gradually encourage the writing of more children’s books in diverse Ethiopian languages.

Educated Ethiopians are quick to talk about the need to develop a reading culture to help their country tackle the problems of AIDS, poverty, hunger, and high unemployment rates (at least 50% in the city of Addis Ababa). But few children’s books exist in Amharic, Oromiffa, Tigrinya, or other Ethiopian languages. Books are desperately needed to help encourage a love of stories and a curiosity for information. Every other year, EthiopiaReads.org will give a Golden Kuraz award to bring attention to the best books published for children in the previous two years.

A committee of EthiopiaReads.org staff, Friends of EthiopiaReads, and others evaluated the children’s books that were submitted for this first Golden Kuraz Award. The winner was Mit’I Mit’iti written in Amharic by Mary Jaafar who was honored at a ceremony at Alliance-Francaise in the spring of 2005.

Miti Mititi, is the first winner of the Golden Kuraz Award. In this delightful story a young chick bursts with bravado. She decides to prove herself to the other farm animals by imitating their best qualities. "I can bark as loud as any dog," she proclaims proudly. "Peep, peep, peep." Only slightly less daunted she moves on to the cats. With each failure a lesson is learned. In the end mother hen holds the secret that helps Miti Mititi find a sense of self worth in being who she truly is.

During a summer visit, Board member Chris Kurtz, who is learning how to read Amharic, bravely waded in to read a few pages of the Golden Kuraz winning book aloud for children at the Shola library. According to their votes, he is now reading on a third grade level. He pledged to be up to sixth grade level by the time he next returns—and challenged them to make similar gains.

Children at Shola Children's Library enjoying Alem Bantayehu's book Clever Mimi

Author Alem Bantayehu generously donated copies of her newly published book to Ethiopia Reads in support of the Take One Book Campaign, that we took to Ethiopia with us when we traveled to Addis Ababa in March.

The picture on the left shows one of the girls who regularly visits Shola Library tickled as she reads.

Read more about Ms. Bantayehu and Clever Mimi:

Clever Mimi, by Alem Bantayehu, is a light-hearted story based on the Ethiopian folktale, Silly Mammo. This a warm story about Clever Mimi, who convinces her mother that she needs keremela.

The illustrations are bright, eye-catching, and sure to entertain the young reader. This 28 page book is published in English and is for an audience age 4-8, although this 36 year old enjoyed the story.

The author, Alem Bantayehu, was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As a young child she lived in Mexico, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. Ms. Bantayehu received her higher education in the United States, attending college in Virginia and obtaining an MBA from prestigious Georgetown University. She now resides in the United States with her husband and two small children.

This book is available for purchase on Amazon.com.

More pictures of Lil Beastee Tee Shirts on Kids from Shola Library