September 2023

Emmet Manheim was passionate about a lot of things that are well-documented: roller coasters, skateboarding, skiing, the Simpsons, family and friends.  But a lesser-known fact is that Emmet loved to read.  Often, we would "catch" him reading late at night, cackling under his covers at the latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid or asking us questions that came up in his "I Survived" series.  Some of our favorite moments were reading together.  (I have a favorite memory of reading Roald Dahl's BFG to him and we laughed and laughed at the line "“'Meanings is not important,” said the BFG. 'I cannot be right all the time. Quite often I is left instead of right.'” ) 

Two years ago, on what would've been Emmet's bar mitzvah (and birthday) on October 23, Emmet's Book Drive was born.  In his memory, Jeff and I ran a massive book drive to collect brand new books for Stamford Public Schools to create classroom libraries, increasing kids' access to independent reading books.  

The response to our annual request has been extraordinary: in the past two years, over 11,000 books were donated to the 13 elementary schools in Stamford. 

Schools created incredible spaces like "Emmet's Book Nook" and we saw photos of teachers "shopping" for books for their classrooms.  Teachers showed their classes a short slideshow about Emmet (see below) so kids could learn a bit about him.

Perhaps the best story of all: Jeff and I were at Stop and Shop a few weeks after the first book drive.  We were wearing our "Emmet's Playground" masks, and a little boy--maybe 7 or 8--ran up to us and exclaimed, "I know Emmet!!  He's the boy with the books!"  We knew then that we were indeed spreading the light and joy that Emmet brought into the world and that part of his legacy would be providing books to kids throughout Stamford....and maybe beyond Stamford one day. 

As an English teacher, I know how critical it is for children to have a wide variety of choice in the books they read: it is indeed the key to becoming a lifelong reader.  And as a mom, I know how much joy reading brought to Emmet and will bring to the children who receive these books.  

This is our third year doing Emmet's Book Drive. We will again focus on filling the classroom libraries in the Stamford Public Schools upper elementary grades, with a focus on 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. The booklist has been carefully curated for these grades.  Every book donated will have, on the inside cover, a sticker that says "Book donated in memory of Emmet Manheim." While each of these books is a gift to the classrooms, it is even  more of a gift to us, as we know that Emmet will be remembered in such a meaningful way.