We love “little junebugs”, the children’s book store and crafting studio in Pasadena, California.

Now we have a reason to love them even more. On February 25th, they are hosting a family fun day in all it’s Hogwarts glory.

Families are encouraged to donate books by bringing in a copy, or two, for the enormous “Harry Potter” donation they are building. Through Milk + Bookies, this delivery will be donated to the children serviced by Operation School Bell in Los Angeles.

And the magic of yumminess will be there through the generosity of our partners, Isabella’s Cookie Company. No Bertie’s Bots for us!

“Expeliarmis!”

more details little junebugs.
Isabella’s Cookie Company

A while ago we shared with you our excitement (read: obsession) with the movie and app for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.

We are thrilled to announce that it has received a VERY WELL DESERVED Oscar nomination for “best animated short film”.

We sure hope it wins the statue, it has already won over our hearts.
Thank you, Moonbot Studios, for your genius and the happiness you have brought us.

Watch the magic here.

Check out this high school that has had 2 separate students hosting events in different ways! We are so excited to see this.

Alway happy to share new ways in which people add Milk + Bookies to their lives.

The lovely ladies at ASSEMBLE GALLERY in Seattle, Washington put on this pretty party at their store/ gallery. Doesn’t it look great? Any version of getting books, giving books and feeling great about both – we are all over.

Milk + Bookies… it’s not just for kids.

Find Assemble Gallery here.

Any chance we get to celebrate our love of books, we are happy to share. This amazing stop motion movie is such a lovely way to think about books and the lives they lead when we are sleeping.

Watch and enjoy: The Joy of Books

With over 25,000 books raised and more than 6,500 children participating in our program thus far, we are ready to start 2012 with a bang!

Above is Frankie, our Milk + Bookies Teen of the Year 2011 who hosted THREE class projects events around Los Angeles.
Other winners include;
Olivia, age 7, Milk + Bookies Young Leader of the Year 2011, who raised over 450 books for her birthday in Franklin, TN.
Kim Fainas, Teacher of the Year 2011, a 4th grade teacher in Ocala, FL who organized a M+B book fair that raised 1,971 books for thier community.
And Milk + Bookies Philanthropic Family of the Year 2011 goes to the owners of Flywheel in Boca Raton who had a spinning book drive raising over 500 books.

Can’t wait to beat all of these incredible numbers for 2012.
Thanks for reading and for your interest and support in Milk + Bookies.
Happy New Year!

There is no better way to celebrate the holidays than highlighting some of the wonderful events we’ve had this year. Here, Gabriele raised 355 books that his family will ship to Peru. Normally, Milk + Bookies will help you find a local organization in your home town in need of books, but Gabe’s dedication to the children in the CHOC Hospital in Borja, Peru was his only choice. He was so inspired by his experience helping others that he has started his own non-profit, Mission:Hero. We are thrilled to have helped get him on his way!

Gabe’s mom says,
“As a mom of two young impressionable boys, I am constantly looking for fun ways to engage them in learning valuable life lessons during the most important developmental years of their lives. Finding Milk + Bookies was beyond a nice birthday solution for Gabriele…it was the perfect opportunity to take his love of books and desire to share to the highest level. To boot…he now tells other kids that “kids can make a difference too. You don’t have to have tons of money or be a grown up….you just have to decide to do something good & Go For It.”

This is a wonderful story about one family’s experience hosting a Milk + Bookies party, Please check it out:
suchsmallsteps.com

We loved what the birthday girl’s mother wrote:

I have to confess something, though. I was trying to really make Norah understand why it was so important to give these books to children in need, and frustrated that she seemed so focused on what she was getting. And yet I hadn’t been setting the best example for her this past week. I didn’t ask for her involvement in the party planning. I didn’t approach the event calmly and happily. I ran around like a maniac to Michael’s and Home Depot and Kinko’s trying to recreate every adorable book-themed decorating project I found on Pinterest. I yelled and stressed and got caught up in the silly need to impress with “my perfect party theme,” completely losing sight of the fact that this day was about Norah.
So I guess it was a “teachable moment” for us both. For me, it was a reminder that things don’t need to be perfect, and that this drive to impress everyone with how I can do it all is silly and unrealistic. And for Norah, it was a chance to learn about children in her own community who are less fortunate, and whose days might be brightened with new stories to read.

Norah raised 16 books that will go to her local children’s hospital.

As we are coming up fast to the holidays, we wanted to share some ideas to make it more meaningful and less stressful for your family.

Some of our supporters celebrate Chanukah, some, Christmas and some, both.

Whatever your family does, it can get out of hand and lose it’s meaning altogether, especially with children in the mix. One family we know always makes sure to add one Chanukah night all about giving and not getting. This is where Milk + Bookies comes in:

1. Pick a night and dedicate it to giving.
2. Invite your family and friends through cocodot.com
3. Purchase your Bookies Box on our SHOP page.
4. Order cookies at isabellascookies.com
5. Get some frozen potato pancakes at Trader Joe’s (or anywhere).

Of course those are just our suggestions. The only thing we REALLY hope you do is participate in some kind of giving experience.

Happy EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE!!!

Black Friday, Cyber Monday – what about just a regular non-titled day to do some holiday shopping?
Right here at your computer, no less?

With the beautiful and yummy Isabella’s Cookie Company Holiday Box, you can:
1.) give your family/ friends/ work associates a super delicious gift
2.) Help support Milk + Bookies (since a portion of all proceeds benefit this non-profit)
3.) be done with this shopping frenzy

Each box consists of 4 bags of cookies for only $30.
YUM and DONE.

isabellascookies.com
click on the top cookie bar under ORDERS and then the last line “click here to order”

We thank you, your wallet thanks you and your recipients will SURELY thank you.