We're excited to come together to participate in Ross Valley Charter Readathon 2026, a fundraiser supporting Ross Valley Charter School. Our collective passion for this cause drives us, and we need your support to make a difference! Every donation—big or small—helps us reach our fundraising goal and directly impacts this important cause.

Here's how you can help:

• Donate: Contribute whatever you can. Every dollar counts!
• Spread the Word: Share our fundraising page with your friends, family, and social networks. Let’s spread awareness so we can raise more!

Thank you so much for your support! We couldn’t do this without you!

 Reading is one of my greatest joys. When I was a child, I treasured the closeness and warmth and coziness of being read to, of connecting – through pages, words, shared images, and imaginary worlds – with loved ones. As an early reader, I felt surprised at my ability to figure out the words in little books, and discovered the magic and power of reading to myself. I remember my mom would drape a cool, slightly damp sheet over our couch in the living room of our South Pasadena home during super super hot summer days, and I would stretch out with a little pile of books, spending many hours just working on decoding. I was 5 years old. When I was entering third grade, my family moved to North County San Diego, to the rural town of Fallbrook; there were horse ranches everywhere and it wasn’t long before I discovered my love of the classic horse books: Misty of Chincoteague, Black Beauty, The Black Stallion. I would close myself in my room and read until my neck was stiff and tears soaked my pillow! I was drawn into stories and lived fully beside my favorite characters, caring deeply for them, rooting for them, learning how to be a person from them. Oh, the books go on and on and they shaped, and continue to shape the chapters of my life. 

Just this morning my family woke to find me finishing a book, The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans. I was on my couch, my sweet dog’s head in my lap – a typical morning for us. My husband noticed my cheeks were damp with tears. “Do you want to tell me about your book?” he asked. My son gave me a hug. I started to give a quick recap, but knew I could never do this remarkable book justice, so instead, I let them hug me, and soon we were laughing, making more coffee, and talking about something else. I will leave this book on our kitchen table for a few weeks as bait, and I hope someone bites. 

Here are a few titles I’ve read very recently: 

On the Calculation of Volume by Solvej Balle (I’m on book 4 of 7 and will read them all) 

The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett 

Middlemarch by George Elliot (read so many times I can’t count and just reread again) 

Never Let Me Go (Kazuo Ishiguro) 

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow