Our Invitation

Posted by Valerie on March 27, 2009

Click Here to Pick Up Your Invitation

This invitation was sent to my own representatives and all members of the House Committee on Commerce & Energy, along with a few other destinations.

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en: @Keite yep, can be home around 8 or 9 07/13/09 01:05am
en: "whys obama outside your room on the wall?"-mom. ME-"So everytime i go in or out of my room,ill remember who my hero is,hes like GOD.&q 07/13/09 01:05am
en: @noorabug *cuddles* Try warm milk or something? 07/13/09 01:05am
en: debating- bed or writing? idea's been floating around for a while now.... 07/13/09 01:05am
en: @ghawi have your roomie record it...or you can watch it online. 07/13/09 01:05am
en: is it just me or is it hotter than the surface of the sun today?? 07/13/09 01:05am
en: ....work is Inevitable.....want to find something I love and get paid for it......becoming a serious chef sooner or later 07/13/09 01:05am
en: @JustShemaBaby coke. Shaq or Kobe 07/13/09 01:05am
en: is it me, or is ron from harry potter picked for everything first. 07/13/09 01:05am
en: LOL... Bitches I'm going to Comicon afterall, and no restraining order can stop me from harassing Joss Whedon or anyone in his entourage ha! 07/13/09 01:05am

Filed Under: CPSIA

Carol Baicker-McKee said,

Valerie,
I am going on the first, and will be speaking on behalf of old books and the individuals affected by their loss. Is it okay if I quote parts of your eloquent (and oh so sad) letter?
Valerie said,

Carol, I am so happy to hear that you are going and will be speaking up for children’s books! Thank you so much, and please feel free to use any of it. I’m truly grateful.

Do you live close to DC or will you be flying in?
Carol Baicker-McKee said,

Aack - just wrote a reply and it disappeared. Hope I don’t duplicate a comment…

I live in Pittsburgh, PA which is about a 4 hour drive from DC. I’m planning to go up and back in one day because my teenage daughter wants to come (she’s completely angry about this law too), and she has school obligations on Tuesday and Thursday. If anyone from the Pittsburgh area (or along our route - Pa turnpike to I-70 to I-270) wants a ride, we’re more than happy to carpool. I have 5 spare seats in my minivan! Obviously, we will be leaving very, very early in the morning (probably around 4:30 or so).

I presented at a school literacy event today. If CPSIA were enforced, the event simply could not have happened. They made crafts with the kids (turns them into manufacturers), provided finished booklets, etc. and read from pre-1985 oversized story time books. No one in Congress or CPSC has begun to contemplate the likely effect on schools.

I grabbed a few books to help with my presentation - a couple of which were pre-1985, and the library’s only books on the topic. The head children’s librarian guessed losing those books would wipe out at least a third of their excellent collection, and would mean the loss of many favorites used for storytime or recommended for particular categories of readers. She noted several books in particular, including a Margaret Wise Brown, a small, less known title by Robert Bright (of the Georgie the Ghost books), and several stunningly beautiful editions of Kate Seredy’s books as ones that would be particularly hard losses to stomach.
Valerie said,

If they ever come after books in the home, I will sleep with Seredy’s books under my pillow.
I’m so glad your daughter is going too!
Carol Baicker-McKee said,

I’d have to build secret compartments in the floor and attic - or move to Australia.

I love Kate Seredy too. You can find reprints of some of her books post-1984, including a couple in hardcover, but they don’t begin to compare with the ones printed in the 1930s, ’40s, ’50s and ’60s which are just completely works of art. Now many of those do fetch “collectible” prices, but I found a good many just on amazon for $20 and less.