Gift Days is a children's book (recommended for ages 8 and up) by Kari-Lynn Winters, illustrated by Stephen Taylor. It was published in 2012 by

Fitzhenry & Whiteside Fitzhenry & Whiteside is a Canadian book publishing and distribution company, located in Leaside, Ontario. It publishes trade titles in children's and young adult fiction, textbooks, reference, history, biography, photography, sports and poetry ...

Plot

Young Nassali longs to read and write like her brother, but since her mother's death from

AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

, Nassali is responsible for looking after her younger siblings and running the household. There is no time for books and learning. Then one day, she wakes up to discover that her chores have been taken care of. It is her first gift day. From that day on, once a week, her brother gives Nassali the gift of time so that she can pursue her dream of an education, just as her mother would have wanted.

Awards

* Finalist
2013 BC Book Prize
(" Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize") * Finalist: Ontario Library Association's , July 2013 * Top four:

CBC Radio CBC Radio is the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which (regardless of language) are outlined below ...

's ''Here and Now'' Recommendations For Children's Books, December 2012

Educational activism

Proceeds from this book are being used to support the charity

Because I am a Girl Because I Am a Girl is an international movement by the aid organization Plan (aid organisation), Plan. The campaign is made to address the issue of sexism, gender discrimination around the world."Discrimination against girls 'still deeply entrenc ...

, a social movement to "unleash the power of girls and women to claim a brighter future for girls in the developing world" through education and women's rights; at its book launch in November 2012, enough money was raised to send 10 girls to school in Uganda for a year. Included with the book is information about organizations committed to supporting girls like Nassali. Winters' method of social activism, via social semiotics and critical positioning, and ''Gift Days'' demonstrate how one's socio-cultural environment contributes to literacy — "an education is the path to a better life."

References

External links

Published reviews of ''Gift Days''

''Gift Days''
at Fitzhenry and Whiteside publishers *''Gift Days'' a
Kari-Lynn Winters personal page
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612223847/http://kariwinters.com/gift-days/ , date=2021-06-12
Stephen Taylor personal page
Children's fiction books 2012 children's books Canadian children's books Canadian picture books Education in Uganda Fitzhenry & Whiteside books Children's books set in Uganda HIV/AIDS in literature