Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? This is the question children’s book author Audrey Vernick will be asking pre-k children in Keansburg, New Jersey on Wednesday, June 13 when she reads her book of the same title to the young students. Ms. Vernick was delighted to team up with Bridge of Books to bring the wonders of books to the preschoolers. Bridge of Books’ mission is to provide new and gently used books to underserved children throughout New Jersey to encourage literacy skills and a love of reading

Ms. Vernick is very enthusiastic about Bridge of Books’ mission, “If I were a superhero, I'd want my superpower to be getting books into the hands of young children. Luckily, Bridge of Books is precisely that superhero -- ensuring that at-risk children throughout New Jersey have the books that will help them develop crucial literacy skills and a love of reading.”  Bridge of Books will be donating copies of Ms. Vernick’s book Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? to each classroom and donating hundreds of other books so that every child will be able to choose two books to take home.

BoB has been donating books to the students of Keansburg for nine years and has organized volunteer readers for Keansburg students for the past four years.  This is the first time Bridge of Books has teamed up with a children’s book author to bring the joys of reading to the children of Keansburg.

About The Bridge of Books Foundation

The Bridge of Books Foundation is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) located in New Jersey Bridge of Books’ mission is to provide an ongoing source of books to underprivileged and at-risk children throughout New Jersey in order to support literacy skills and to encourage a love of reading. Since 2003, BoB has donated 300,000 books to more than 100 agencies serving at-risk children across New Jersey.  

The Foundation generally acquires books through book drives and individual donations.  Bridge of Book operates in accordance with several core beliefs: all children should have ongoing and ready access to age appropriate books; books in the home have the power to change lives – providing an understanding of the world, encouraging imagination and promoting dreams; and sharing books strengthens communities. 
As Ms. Daly is fond of saying, “Good books should never be read only once!”

About Audrey Vernick

Audrey Vernick is the author of numerous books for young readers. She frequently presents at elementary and middle schools throughout New Jersey and beyond. Her debut middle-grade novel, WATER BALLOON, published last year, received a 2011 Blue Ribbon from the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, honoring the book as one of the best of the year's literature for youth. Her books have also been honored with selection for the IRA/CBC Children's Choice Award; ALA Amelia Bloomer List; Bank Street College's Best Children's Book of the Year; and the Oppenheim Gold Seal.

Ms. Vernick's most recent book, BROTHERS AT BAT: THE TRUE STORY OF AN AMAZING ALL-BROTHER TEAM (about the Acerras of Long Branch, NJ), has received great critical acclaim. The New York Times Book Review said, "A captivating story, impeccable layout and glorious illustrations make this historical account an unqualified winner." And Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. said, "BROTHERS AT BAT is a story any baseball fan will enjoy and one that we all should know."

A two-time recipient of the NJ Arts Council's prestigious fiction fellowship, Ms. Vernick lives with her family in Ocean Township.