Local entrepreneurs make book baskets for kids BY SHARON LEE TEGLER, For the Capital Published 04/24/06, Copyright © 2006 The Capital Annapolis, Md. Sisters Patricia Anderson and Christine DiPaola, freely admit they were book worms as children. In fact, they never outgrew their love of reading. Now they have turned their lifelong passion into a business. As co-owners of Baby Book Worm, Book Baskets for Kids, they create gift baskets that combine children's books with toys. The women are delighted to be working together. Both are Navy wives who have followed their husbands around the country and only now have ended up in the same place at the same time. Ms. DiPaola is a St. Margarets resident and Ms. Anderson lives in Severna Park. Both teach at Shipley's Choice Elementary School. The initial idea for their company evolved slowly. Ms. Anderson was living in California where her husband, Erik, was a commanding officer of an F/A-18 fighter squadron at NAS Lemore. At the school where she was teaching, she always brought in lots of children's books for her students to read. During those years, she also indulged another of her passions, collecting and selling Longaberger baskets. One day, while searching for a baby shower gift, she hit on the idea of combining her two favorite items, a children's book and a lovely basket. Her wrapped gift basket featured a plush toy, a book and some baby items. The present was a hit and she repeated it often. Upon her move to Severna Park, the sisters began searching for a creative project they could share. A visit to a local bookstore one day reinforced the validity of Ms. Anderson's book gift basket idea. While browsing in the children's section, she noticed someone trying to match plush toys with a book. "Somebody ought to be doing that," she thought. "Why not us?" Why not, indeed? Ms. DiPoala was open to the idea. Her husband, Cmdr. Joe DiPaola, a Navy helicopter pilot, had recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. Since he was now available to share responsibilities, she had the time. She reasoned, "I already have a rewarding job, but this is a creative outlet and a way to do some good for the community by donating some of our profits to charity." The sisters took things step by step. They began by making baskets for friends whose positive responses encouraged them to move ahead. They applied for business licenses, purchased supplies, and created basket designs. They chose a company name based on their initial intention to produce the baskets as baby gifts. The next step, marketing and advertising for Baby Book Worm has now begun. The company has introduced a Web site, www.babybookworm.net, which features photographs of 18 different baskets The company quickly expanded their line. At the request of clients, additional designs were created for toddlers through pre-schoolers. The women are considering increasing the age limit further. Ms. Anderson's thinks she knows why the new baskets are going over so well. "Sometimes parents want to give books but kids aren't anxious to receive them," she said. "When paired with a plush animal, toys or games, a book becomes a special present. It's more fun to read." Baby Book Worm baskets are customized and come in a choice of colors. "We start with a story character the customer selects, a little stuffed animal," Ms. DiPaolo said. Popular examples include a "Madeline Basket" which contains a collectible Madeline doll plus three hard-bound books and a "Ladybug Basket" which features a book, "The Grouchy Ladybug", surrounded by ladybug bubbles, a wind-up ladybug toy that crawls, tiny ladybugs that go up the handle and a ladybug ribbon." Young parents favor the "Baby Einstein Basket" with its assortment of learning activities, classical CDs, and discovery cards that accompany the books. There are baskets based on classics like "Peter Rabbit", perennial favorites such as "Curious George", and TV characters like Elmo. Baby Book Worm recently announced that its products will be carried by the Be Beep-A-Toy Shops in Severna Park and Annapolis. A portion of the proceeds from each of the ready-to-give gift baskets will be donated to children's charities including the Junior Diabetes Foundation (Christine's daughter is diabetic), the American Lung Association, Muscular Dystrophy and the Children's Hunger alliance. Sharon Lee Tegler is a freelance writer living in Severna Park |
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