‘One in eight kids live in book poverty, not owning a single book.’ – The Big Issue (29th August 2019)
The book box library lid is closed to those
without keys to unlock creations of
pages of inviting illustrations
and words for igniting imaginations.
Children picking picture books off bookshelves
for story time before bedtime
is a world unopened to those shown
repetitions of closed hope.
Parents sharing cluttered collections
of baby books
with infants
whilst they imitate sounds of impressions
projected soft and loud
are adventures unknown to those
unable to receive available first books.
Helping hands are providing
access to book stacks,
gifting new beginnings,
closing chapters on narratives
that circumstances lack stories,
giving flight for hardback and paperback pages.
Amanda Hemmings
amandahemmings.co.uk 