In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been soliciting thoughts on reading and stitching and lists of favorite books from members of the needlework community.

Here’s a response from Doug Kreinik, owner of Kreinik Mfg. Co., Inc.

The Little Engine That Could, by Watty Piper, was first published in 1930. The little blue engine’s determined refrain, “I think I can,” is as indelibly written in our collective consciousness as “I have a dream” and “One small step for man.”

After 78 years, this story celebrating the rewards of determination and hard work continues to inspire readers. It provides the basis for

• parties,
• toys,
• a national tour,
• a 1991 movie,
• 22 different book formats

It is the first book sent to children in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. This program provides a brand new book each month to registered children under the age of five, up to 60 books per child.

Is this important? You decide.

• An independent study funded by the US Dept of Education found that 55% of children who receive a new age-appropriate book of their very own had an increased interest in reading. Young adults with a “high interest in reading” jumped from 23 to 61%.
• Studies show that having access to a wide variety of reading materials is essential for a child to develop into a strong reader.
• The only behavioral measure that correlates significantly with reading scores is the number of books in the home.
• 61% of low-income families have no books in their homes for children.

Can you make a difference in child’s reading life by stitching a bookmark? I think you can, I think you can.

Thanks, Doug!