Close to Home: Learning from the ‘ambassador of books’

In Cambridge, Massachusetts, a young descendant of Russian immigrants started his working career sweeping floors at the Harvard Coop, a cooperative started by Harvard students in 1882. He left to join the Army, returning years later to work his way up to general merchandizing manager for the Coop. Initially, the Coop sold textbooks, school supplies and heating coal to the students of Harvard University. It later expanded to sell records, basic clothing and other items.

This man's name was Elliot Leonard, and he was my grandfather. Following is the story of how he came to be a lover and ambassador of books - and how he imparted this love for books on his family.

While working at the Harvard Coop, my grandfather got involved with the American Booksellers Association, where he would later serve on the board and as president. My grandparents moved to Pasadena in the 1960s, where my grandfather took a position as the southwest regional manager of B. Dalton Booksellers, based out of Pickwick Bookshop on Hollywood Boulevard.

In 1968, Pickwick was acquired by the Dayton Hudson Corp., parent company of B. Dalton Bookseller. The company B. Dalton was later sold to Barnes and Noble. A long chain of acquisitions and liquidations eventually morphed old companies into those we are more familiar with today, such as Target and GameStop.

When my grandfather retired from the bookselling business, his last published work was a book in the early 1990s titled “Operating a Bookstore: Practical Details for Improving Profit.” Little did he know, the internet would completely reshape the landscape of the book industry.

Visiting my grandparents in the '90s, I recall how their home was always full of books. Their den and office had shelves of them - along with the board games my grandfather was fond of inventing. For my grandfather, books, writing and tennis were go-to activities. The grandchildren - six of us - often received books for birthdays and holidays.

I am a product of public education and a supportive home. As a United Way of the Wine Country education program officer and as a member of the Sonoma County Board of Education, I'm proud of our public education system. That said, the engagement of my grandparents - and my parents - is what truly instilled in me a love of reading and writing.

When Grandpa Elliot passed away in 1999, he left me the gavel that was given to him in recognition of his presidency at the American Booksellers Association. I still have it and cherish it. Recently, I learned he left behind a typewritten autobiography and a box of letters between him and my grandmother during World War II. These serve as a window into the past and an insight into my love of literacy.

Children need more than schools to instill a love and appreciation of reading. Many children don't have books at home; how are they ever going to learn what it is like to love reading? Many households these days have two working parents who are too busy trying to put food on the table to buy books or read daily to their children. When only 39 percent of third graders in Sonoma County are meeting or exceeding third grade English Language Arts standards, there is an imperative in the community to help ameliorate this problem.

I encourage you to call my colleague, Emmanuel Moon, at United Way of the Wine Country, to learn about how you can instill this love of reading in a student near you. We're looking for people who are willing to give 30 minutes a week from October through May tutoring a student one-on-one through Schools of Hope. Perhaps one day the children you and I tutor will have unique stories of their own to tell - stories about how they came to love reading.

Feel free to give us a call at 707-528-4485, ext. 103 to learn more about how you can be a part of someone's life story.

Andrew Leonard is an education program officer for United Way of the Wine Country and a member of the Sonoma County Board of Education. He lives in Santa Rosa.