By Megan Sheehan<\/p>\n
Photos by Maureen Tricase\/Capture Your Moments Photography<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There\u2019s nothing quite as timeless as a book.<\/p>\n
It seems rather simple, but in reality is anything but. Bound paper held tight by a spine, printed ink, pages and a story. For centuries, books have been the connecting dots of stories passed down through the generations. They are a portal to other worlds and places unknown. Books open up doors to endless ideas and concepts. They sit upon coffee tables, once empty shelves, nightstands, travel bags, classrooms, and even the loo.<\/p>\n
But one place seems to be lacking these valuable commodities. Thankfully, someone noticed and is doing something about it.<\/p>\n
Liverpool native Sue Straub has been an educator for 32 years in the North Syracuse school district and has stumbled upon a resounding issue many kids are facing: the absence of books in the home. Books are an adventure that should be a part of every childhood. For a child in this day to be without is nothing short of heartbreaking. Sue recalls a student with such a problem with tears in her eyes: \u201cThis is a child who is blossoming as a reader with no access to books.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Sue first realized this disheartening position, she jumped on what has become a bright solution.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t traveled the world like other people have,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve learned about world cultures. I\u2019ve traveled through books. I think you can learn a lot from a book.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sue had often fantasized about starting a book mobile that would travel locally and bring books to kids.\u00a0She and her husband brainstormed suddenly when her brother-in-law put a van up for sale, and an inspirational close family friend passed away.<\/p>\n
That van served as an inspiration.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, that van,\u201d she remembered thinking. \u201cI could do a book van with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sue and her husband bought the van and remodeled it complete with shelving units and tubs for organizing books by theme and topic. She also got full approval and support backing from the North Syracuse teachers\u2019 union, the North Syracuse Education Association (NSEA). With that, Book Van-Go was ready to roll!<\/p>\n
The wheels on the van had begun to turn, and the books started rolling in. Sue\u2019s close friends and family, fellow teachers and educators would all bring her boxes of beautiful books as donations. Word began to spread. She began to network with bookstores and libraries to create a summer reading program, as they share a common goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all just want kids to read and find a love of reading,\u201d Sue said.<\/p>\n
Book Van-Go visits a series of parks in the summer. They pull up into their spot, place the \u201cThe Book Van is Here!\u201d sign and kids will come running. Every week has a new theme. Some kids find a book, and go read instantly under a tree or on a bench. The regulars will check the request basket and see if the book they\u2019ve yearned for has arrived. Sue is able to fulfill these wishes by creating an Amazon wish list for books kids have asked for, giving them a unique sense of a book club. The excitement for books and reading and enrichment are being embraced and encouraged.<\/p>\n
The books have helped to unify a diverse group of kids from all over North Syracuse. Books can do that, Sue said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just think we\u2019re more alike than we are different,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Sue is incredibly humble in her project.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got it started, but I was just the one that got a van and everyone has filled that van,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
As far as expanding goes, Sue would love to upgrade to a school bus which would allow for what would be more of a mobile shop. It would require less set up and would entail kids being able to go inside the bus to take a look around for their most perfect book.<\/p>\n
Sue is hoping books stay alive and keep interest forever.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope it\u2019s a timeless activity,\u201d she said. \u201cI hope it\u2019s not something that when I\u2019m in my 80s it\u2019s going to be hard to find books.\u201d<\/p>\n
Keep your eyes out for Book Van-Go this summer Tuesdays at Burnham Park in Mattydale, Wednesdays at Richfield Park and pool in Mattydale, and Thursdays at Kennedy Park in North Syracuse. Follow Book Van-Go on Facebook for more locations and special events.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re interested in donating books or Amazon gift cards, message Book Van-Go through Facebook or drop your like new books age range pre-K through eighth grade at The North Syracuse Education Association at 210 S. Main Street Suite 203 in North Syracuse.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Megan Sheehan Photos by Maureen Tricase\/Capture Your Moments Photography There\u2019s nothing quite as timeless as a book. It seems rather simple, but in reality is anything but. Bound paper held tight by a spine, printed ink, pages and a story. For centuries, books have been the connecting dots of stories passed down through…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2521,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[101],"tags":[926,157,925],"class_list":["post-2520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-book-van-go","tag-inspire","tag-sue-straub"],"gutentor_comment":1,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/fullsizeoutput-2ac8.jpeg?fit=4476%2C6607&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3231,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3231","url_meta":{"origin":2520,"position":0},"title":"Inspire: Sue Fassler: Leading the way toward sustainability","author":"Alyssa Dearborn","date":"August 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Norah Machia A simple but powerful message can be learned from the zero waste programs at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry: recycling is a good thing, but waste reduction is even better. \u201cIt\u2019s more important that we reduce from the start,\u201d said Sue Fassler, Director of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Inspire"","block_context":{"text":"Inspire","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=1143"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Sue-Fassler-Headshot-on-SUNY-ESF-campus-2.jpg?fit=841%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Sue-Fassler-Headshot-on-SUNY-ESF-campus-2.jpg?fit=841%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Sue-Fassler-Headshot-on-SUNY-ESF-campus-2.jpg?fit=841%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Sue-Fassler-Headshot-on-SUNY-ESF-campus-2.jpg?fit=841%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":968,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=968","url_meta":{"origin":2520,"position":1},"title":"Sue Foster","author":"Staff","date":"July 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Power of Failure\u00a0 By Lorna Oppedisano| Photography by Alexis Emm\u00a0 Sue Foster, Manlius Pebble Hill School science department chair, occasionally poses a theoretical, big picture question to her students. \u201cWhat would you do if you knew you couldn\u2019t fail?\u201d she asks. \u201cIf you were guaranteed success, what would you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/SWM-AUG-Alexis-Emm-Photograffi-14.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/SWM-AUG-Alexis-Emm-Photograffi-14.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/SWM-AUG-Alexis-Emm-Photograffi-14.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/SWM-AUG-Alexis-Emm-Photograffi-14.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/SWM-AUG-Alexis-Emm-Photograffi-14.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3222,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3222","url_meta":{"origin":2520,"position":2},"title":"Inspire: Diane Bostick: Carrying on with creativity","author":"Alyssa Dearborn","date":"August 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Jason Klaiber Though the years of high school saw her dabble with poetry and earn nods for her book reports, it wasn\u2019t until Diane Bostick reached her 30s in the 1980s that her creative streak truly set in, never to let up. 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