Just Doo-it: Entertaining Children’s Books Raise Money for Charities While Telling Stories of the Great "Doers" of the World
Dewey Doo-it, an award winning series of children's books, links charities, celebrities, and a cast of lovable characters called Doo-its to teach children to be kind and helpful. Especially at the holidays, parents are thrilled to find a creative avenue for teaching their children the importance of giving while at the same time, actually contributing to the cause that is addressed in the storybook.
(PRWEB) December 4, 2005 -- At the holidays we feel a greater desire to reach out to those in need, and Alan Green, children’s book author is providing a creative new way to do it ― with the help of some loveable characters called (appropriately) the Doo-its.
Alan Green and Brahm Wenger have created a series of children’s books that deal with current issues of poverty, homelessness and hunger. “The books were born from an idea I got three years ago while reading an article about people who had started various charitable organizations," said Green. "People like Larry Jones (who founded Feed the Children,) embraced the notion that one person can make a difference. Their stories inspired me and I thought that it might translate for kids and get them thinking about helping others instead of thinking only about themselves. Wouldn't it be great if we could do something to raise a ton of money for charity?"
The grand plan was to create a children's entertainment company to generate funds for charitable foundations and organizations. Alan, using his marketing talents, and Brahm, a musical composer for a roster of Disney films teamed up with Disney animator Jean Gilmore to create an entire cast of Muppet-like Doo-it characters that introduce children to the challenge of others misfortunes and find solutions through compassion and hard work.
“We have been called Sesame Street for the soul,” says Green. “We give parents a fun and entertaining way to teach their children to be kind and compassionate. While kids are born with the potential for empathy and generosity, parents and teachers need help nurturing those positive traits.
Each Dewey Doo-it story has a three-fold mission:
- To help children understand that some people are facing difficult challenges such as hunger, homelessness and physical disabilities.
- To tell them about the great people working everyday to solve these problems.
- To nurture in each child the qualities of selflessness, kindness and compassion.
The Helpful Doo-its Project has partnered with inspirational people and their charitable organizations. The first collaboration was with Christopher and Dana Reeve and their Christopher Reeve Foundation. This story chronicles a wheelchair-bound owl that learns to fly again after his arduous rehabilitation and help from the Doo-its. After Chris’ untimely passing, Dana insisted the project be finished and the story told. Inspired by real live Doo-it friends, Alan and Brahm asked Dana to dedicate her talents to the memory of her late husband by singing an original song on a CD to accompany the story and to also invite some of her friends to share in this memory. As a result, Tony-winning actor/singer Mandy Patinkin and fellow Tony winner Bernadette Peters sang some beautiful melodies that accompany the book. Dana appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, interviewed with Parade Magazine and promoted the cause along with Patinkin and Peters in book signings bringing the awareness to the nation.
Green and Wenger built on the success of their first book with more stories addressing other current social problems. The next Doo-it adventure, titled “Dewey Doo-it Feeds a Friend,” was created to benefit the charity Feed the Children. Alan flew to Oklahoma and met founder Larry Jones. “I was overwhelmed by his dedication to the hungry people of this world, and I knew our books could help bring a new generation to an awareness of this problem.”
The third book in the series, “Dewey Doo-it Builds a House,” donates a portion of all its proceeds to Habitat for Humanity. Each book includes a tribute to the charity it benefits, giving parents and children an opportunity to discuss real ways that people have impacted these pressing social problems. “What makes Dewey Doo-it truly unique is that each of his stories is inspired by the work of real people; wonderful people who help others in their times of need,” says Green.
For the 2005 Christmas season the prestigious Lord and Taylor clothing store chain commissioned Green and Wenger to produce a special Christmas book to benefit Feed the Children. The book, Dewey’s Magical Sleigh, is featured on the front page of their Christmas catalogue and all their store windows. When Hurricane Katrina devastated the South, Feed the Children was on the scene, and Lord and Taylor wanted to add something to benefit the victims of the storm. Actor John Goodman volunteered to record a CD of the book, and so each copy of Dewey’s Magical Sleigh comes with a reading in Goodman’s wonderful style.
“Each time a family buys one of our products, they are teaching their children the importance of giving. At the same time, they are actually contributing to the cause that is addressed in the story. This is a great way to teach our children to be doers, not just hearers,” says Green. “We receive so many comments from parents and educators that describe the empowerment kids feel when they learn that they can really make a difference in the world.”
“As we think about the people whose stories we tell, we realize that they all have one thing in common. When they see a problem to be solved, they just DO IT. They don’t wait for someone else to work on it. They don’t think about all the reasons they’re not qualified to fix it. They just go forward with confidence, face the challenge, and do it. So our characters, The Doo-its, now inspire children to follow their example.”
To learn more about the Doo-its or to share these books and CDs with your loved ones, visit www.DeweyDooit.com
# # #
|
