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Communities thrive because people grow up taking collective responsibility and caring for the well-being of others. That is the vision of The Giving Square (TGS), started in Montgomery County, MD, in 2016 to educate children about philanthropy and give them a chance to be real philanthropists (and pronounce the word!). TGS now operates in more than 50 schools in Montgomery County, as well as Missour and soon California and New Jersey. As great as The Giving Square is, I really want to share The Giving Square Selects, a national award program honoring books that highlight community helpers and people doing good in the world – especially young people and often right in their own school or community. Nominated titles demonstrate the best of storytelling but also help kids become empathetic about people enduring pressing social issues, explore their own agency and capability to be helpful, and begin building a broader sense of personal responsibility to their communities. Fifteen books have been nominated in 2026. Children will be reading and voting in the summer and fall, with awardees announced November 1. Children make the decisions. Too often we forget how committed and enthusiastic children can be.  Here are last year’s winners – great for summer reading recommendations, gifts and family conversations....  If you would like your school (or your child or grandchild’s school) to learn about TGS or if you have children who would like to vote on the 2026 nominees, please write to TGS founder Amy Neugebauer [email protected] Happy Reading!!
Have a wonderful book-filled summer! |