Gaithersburg Book Festival Partners with Kentlands Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa for 2015 Children’s Book Drive

By Jud Ashman | Published December 2, 2015

Every Child Deserves a Good Book!

Gaithersburg, Md. – December 1, 2015 – For the second year in a row, the Gaithersburg Book Festival will partner with Kentlands Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa for a holiday children’s book drive.

“We had a fabulous response to our first holiday drive in 2014, and we are hoping to see participation in the book drive grow this holiday season,” said Jud Ashman, Festival chair and mayor of the City of Gaithersburg. “We want to give our kids the gift of literacy. By providing new books to children in need, we can help boost children’s interest in and love of reading. We are delighted to continue this initiative.”

“Books are gifts that keep giving – they help our kids strengthen their reading skills and stretch their imaginations. Watching our kids delight in a story and seeing their eyes light up with the treasure of learning could not be more rewarding,” said Kay Hechler, owner of Kentlands Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, which also will donate one copy of each of the requested titles to the book drive.

Participation is easy!

Visit the Kentlands Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa.
Select from a list of sample titles available in the store.
Pay for your selections.

The spa will order the selected titles through Politics & Prose Bookstore and deliver the books to the Gaithersburg Book Festival committee, which is working with the City of Gaithersburg Holiday Giving program and Stephanie Brant, principal at Gaithersburg Elementary School, to ensure the books get distributed to Gaithersburg community families in need.

Everyone who donates a book will receive a hand decorated bookmark* or gift tag* (decorated by a child from Gaithersburg), a coupon from the Kentlands Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa for free aromatherapy (a $10 value) during a massage or $10 off an Exceptional Facial, and be entered in a drawing to win a free massage or facial.

*While supplies last!

Donation Location: Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa

217 Kentlands Boulevard

Gaithersburg, MD 20878 (between Giant Food and Kmart)

Tel: 301-527-8663

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Requested Books:

“Astronaut Academy” by Dave Roman
“Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” by Jeff Kinney
“Doll Bones” by Holly Black
“Dragons Beware” by Jorge Aguirre
“El Deafo” by CeCe Bell
“Flora & Ulysses” by Kate DiCamillo
“Giants Beware” by Jorge Aguirre
“Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss
“Hi! Fly Guy” by Ted Arnold
“Little Robot” by Ben Hatke
“A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park
“One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish” by Dr. Seuss
“Out of My Mind” by Sharon M. Draper
“Percy Jackson Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan
“We Are in a Book (Elephant & Piggie)” by Mo Willem
“When You Reach Me” by Rebecca Stead
“Zeus” by George O’Connor
“Zita the Spacegirl” by Ben Hatke

About the Gaithersburg Book Festival

The Gaithersburg Book Festival is an annual all-day celebration of books, writers and literary excellence. Now in its seventh year, the Festival has become one of the premier literary events in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2016, on the grounds of Gaithersburg City Hall, in Olde Towne Gaithersburg, Md. Activities include author appearances, discussions and book signings; writing workshops; a Children’s Village; onsite sales of new and used books; literary exhibitors and food, drink, ice cream and more. FREE admission and shuttle from Shady Grove Metro and Lakeforest Mall. The Gaithersburg Book Festival also hosts additional author events in Montgomery County throughout the year as a way to encourage continued appreciation for all things literary. For more information please visit www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org.

About the Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa

Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa was founded in 2004 by John Marco, a physical therapist and visionary entrepreneur committed to offering quality and affordable massage and skin care services throughout a growing number of Hand and Stone spas in the United States and Canada. The Kentlands Hand and Stone opened in September 2014 and is owned and operated by Kay Hechler and her husband, John Phillips. Prior to opening the Kentlands Hand and Stone, Ms. Hechler worked in the publishing industry, beginning her career in children’s book publishing and working for more than two decades at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), where she managed the business, sales, and marketing operations of USIP Press. She was the 2013-2014 president of Washington Publishers and currently sits on its Advisory Board.

About the Gaithersburg Holiday Giving Program

Each year, thanks to the generosity of many individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations and faith-based groups, more than 1,000 households in the City of Gaithersburg are provided with food baskets and meals at Thanksgiving and gifts for children in December. Households are referred by school counselors and nonprofit organizations, and Gaithersburg’s initiative is coordinated with other municipalities throughout Montgomery County to reduce duplication and ensure maximum effectiveness. Monetary donations, which can conveniently be made online, Kmart gift cards, and donations of meals and new toys are sought. For more information please visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov or contact the City of Gaithersburg Community Services Division at 301-258-6395 x2.

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