The goal of the Ethan & Choco’s Book Club (ECBC) is to make access to books and reading a core part of the care that kids receive in the hospital. Click here to check out Ethan’s ECBC launching video! Three components define the vision for ECBC:

1. To build high-quality lending and gifting libraries at CHOC Children’s Hospital, including a main comprehensive lending library; mobile book carts (libraries on wheels) that travel to patient rooms (especially a gifting library cart for patients in isolation who can’t borrow books due to infectious disease protocol); book boxes that are gifted to new cancer diagnoses with books curated by the gender and age of the child; and book nooks in common spaces where patients spend time (e.g., Oncology floor lobby, Outpatient Infusion Center).  Libraries will be designed with features that inspire reading, such as utilizing thematic, open-faced shelving; comfortable seating; and high-quality mainstream and therapeutic literature.
2. To implement high-quality read-aloud programming in patinet rooms and common spaces so that all patients have the opportunity to benefit from the effects of daily reading aloud during their hospital stay. Volunteers will be trained on how to select quality literature as well as how to read aloud to optimize engagement, dialogue, good thinking, and literacy skills.
3. To create additional programming that uses reading-based experiences to connect kids in the hospital to other kids, other interest areas, and the outside world. Examples of such programs include “Reading in the Kitchen” (group read alouds that inspire cooking),  “Let’s Read & Create” (group read alouds that inspire art), and ECBC Across the Curriculum (read aloud events that inspire thinking in academic areas such as math and science).

By promoting literacy development, critical thinking through conversations around books, and opportunities for social connections, ECBC aims to help every child to thrive during treatment and beyond.

Click here to read about Ethan’s story underlying the founding of ECBC!

DESCRIPTION OF WHAT WILL BE FUNDED WITH INITIAL FUNDRAISING

The goal of our initial fundraising efforts is to raise enough money to give CHOC patients quick access to high-quality books as well as opportunities for daily read alouds performed by trained volunteers. Funds will go towards purchasing needed books for Lending and Gifting Libraries (hardcover and paperback, respectively); mobile gifting library book carts; specially designed mobile Lending Library book carts that function like lending libraries (e.g., with displays, outgoing and ingoing book areas, etc);  read-aloud wagons; and additional supplies such as ECBC book plates, bookmarks, parent materials; incentive program materials (i.e., “Book Bands”); marketing needs; and book sanitation products. Funds will also go towards book boxes for kids at CHOC (and beyond) who are newly diagnosed with cancer (called “Read+Think+Thrive Boxes”), valued at approximately $100 per box.

Ethan & Choco’s Book Club is a public benefit, non-profit corporation, EIN83-2934289. 501c3 status pending.