Hathaway Brown’s Middle School Birthday Book Program allows families to honor their daughter by donating books on her birthday. In previous years, book donations benefited HB’s library; but, starting with the 2019-2020 school year, each family that participated provided two new paperback books for the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital Child Life playroom library.
This library serves patients with various medical conditions who often have compromised immune systems and are unable to benefit from traditional library services or used books.
Child life specialists at Cleveland Clinic Children's use a variety of techniques for patients to understand and cope with their medical experiences. Their playroom library uses books to help patients step into worlds of adventure, fantasy, or anywhere outside of their hospital room.
The donated books are HB students’ favorite young adult titles and books that support the situations and interests of the Clinic's patients. A special bookplate, with the student’s first name and birth month, was placed in the front of each donated book to acknowledge the HB family’s gift.
Also included with the book donation is a finding guide that lists subjects and reading levels of each book, including a special note about any medical connection the story might have. This donation will help the patients to continue to read new and relevant books while in the hospital.