Good Deeds

Looking for a holiday gift that keeps on giving? For each copy of its “A Bedtime Story” sold until the New Year, the Mondo Publishing of Greenvale, N.Y., in partnership with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, has pledged to donate a paperback to children.

“The simple gesture of giving a child a new book creates a wonderful ripple effect of joy, self-esteem, family bonding and learning,” says Peter Gold, co-founder of First Book, a nonprofit organization, and a supporter of the Mondo campaign.

The Starbucks Coffee Company has started a similar program, joining with eight other companies in pledging to give 1 million books to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. To fund the campaign, entitled “All Books for Children,” Starbucks will be accepting $3 donations through Dec. 24. Donors will receive book plates that they may inscribe with messages, and each plate will later be affixed to a donated book. Starbucks promises that administrative and shipping costs will be absorbed by the companies.