2024 Winter Newsletter

2023 Seedlings Highlights

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

We hope your 2024 is off to a great start! As we begin a new year, let us reflect on some of our 2023 highlights:

· Producing a record number of 48,254 braille books that were sent to children with vision loss – a 28% increase over 2022!

· Giving away 32,815 of those books – another record amount, which is 68% of the total!

· Offering more than 843 titles in Unified English Braille (UEB). Seedlings continues to be a leader in UEB among braille publishers!

· We had another record breaking Online Auction – raising a grand total of $59,000, thanks to our generous sponsors, donors and supporters! We were able to provide 5,900 braille books to children with vision loss.

Thank you for supporting Seedlings and most importantly, providing braille books to our awesome readers! We look forward to doing so much more in 2024.

Newsworthy moment

WDIV Local 4/ ClickonDetroit aired a story about Seedlings during their January 12^th morning broadcast!

Please share this wonderful segment with your family and friends.

Watch or Listen to Story

Image description: Joshua is pictured sitting on the floor reading a print-and-braille book.

Seedlings Spotlight

Joshua (pictured) is one of our readers. He recently sent us this quote.

“My name is Joshua. I am a 10-year-old boy that likes to read Seedlings’ braille books. My favorite chapter book that I have gotten from them is “James and the Giant Peach”. I like Seedlings’ books because then I can read the same books as my brothers and sisters.”

Happy reading, Joshua!

Image description: Austin is pictured outdoors, smiling at the camera with green trees and grass behind him. He's wearing a gray suit coat with a light blue shirt and pastel tie with a pattern on it.

Seedlings Alumni:

Austin Shepherd

We recently caught up with former Seedlings reader, Austin Shepherd. Austin is currently an AmeriCorps member serving with the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan. He grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he was an avid Seedlings reader. Austin graduated from Kalamazoo College where he studied psychology.

“I enjoyed reading Seedlings Braille Books for Children’s books as a child. As a dual-braille and print reader, Seedlings-print-and-braille combo books and flashcards were a huge part of my early childhood. Seedlings helped shape my love of reading. Thank you Seedlings and best of luck moving forward.”

Image Description: Cover art for "Eleanor Roosevelt First Lady of the World."

Check out the latest Seedlings Titles:

We recently added seven converted titles to our Unified English Braille (UEB) collection, bringing our total to 843 UEB titles! They include:

-Eleanor Roosevelt First Lady of the World

-Magic Tree House #24: Earthquake in the Early Morning

-The Christmas Doll

-Judy Moody Saves the World

-E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Storybook

-Junie B. Jones #7: Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren

-Nancy Drew #128: The Treasure in the Royal Tower

Order Today

Image description: A gif of a book is pictured, with its pages flipping.

It's National Braille Literacy Month:

Please Give the Gift of Literacy

Please consider making a donation to Seedlings to provide braille books to children with vision loss. Every $10 donation provides a braille book. Thank you for your support!

Donate Today

Image description: A square outline is shown with swatches of red, yellow and green. Black text on top reads "Celebrating Black History Month February."

Celebrate Black History Month in February and National Reading Month in March!

Check out our diversity page and bestsellers page to purchase your next braille book titles to celebrate these important months.

Seedlings Website

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How You Can Help

800-777-8552

P.O. Box 51924

Livonia, MI 48151

Seedlings Braille Books for Children is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Federal ID 38-2565354. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.