The charity, now in its second year, aims to build libraries in under-resourced schools and encourage children to read. The project collected and distributed over 70,000 books in 2001.

"It was a no-brainer for me to host this party," said Donna Karan. "You take children, communication and charity together -- how can I say no?" added the designer, dressed in an all-black ensemble. Karan admitted that she was a more "visual" child who didn't read too much herself, and still doesn't have the time to indulge in books the way she'd like to. "I just don't have the time to sit down and open a book - you know, I'd like to go away just so I can read," she lamented.

"I wish I had read more when I was younger," Stephanie Seymour said, echoing Karan. "It's so important to read. And I believe that parents should read to their children at least ten minutes a day."

The model and mother of three, looking stunning in a black sleeveless top and red, slightly sculptured skirt, listed the "Harry Potter" series as a family favorite. "It's so well written and fun," Seymour pointed out.

But her own literary tastes are more adult. "I love Vladimir Nabokov," she said, worrying if she had pronounced his name wrong. (She didn't.)

Discovering hardcovers as an adult seems to be the standard for models, as male hunk Markus Schenkenberg also admitted to not having been a bookworm 'til recently. "God, when I was a kid all I wanted to do is play," Schenkenberg, currently enrolled in acting school, reflected. "I like to read books on psychology," he added, citing Brian L. Weiss's psychiatry-meets-metaphysics book "Many Masters Many Lives" as his favorite.

Elizabeth Jagger, dressed up in a black-one shoulder Donna Karan dress and white and black striped mules, took a little cigarette break in the courtyard from the crowd that included Eileen Ford and Hal Rubenstein. The Rolling Stones scion brought six of her favorite books from childhood, including "The Wizard of Oz" and "Alice in Wonderland."

When asked which book she last indulged in, Jagger answered with a cheeky grin, "English Eccentrics."

Joining the book givers was actress Jaime Presley of "Jack and Jill" and the new "Not Another Teen Movie" fame. Though the North Carolina native had a hard time recalling any of the designer clothes she was wearing apart from her Kangol hat, the upbeat Presley was much quicker when it came to authors. "The last book I read was 'The Mastery of Love,' by Miguel Ruiz," she said.

But while we don't question the profoundness of the ancient wisdom and mastery introduced by Ruiz, we liked Presley's one-step advice on how to turn your life around: cut your hair. "Oh my god, it totally changed my life," said the actress about shedding her blonde mane. "People respect me more now," she declared. "You know when you have blue eyes and are blonde ... I believe I always had an edge but people are starting to see it now."

Finally, model Erin O'Connor, in a white tuxedo jacket, black pants, red pumps and pearl choker by Donna Karan, when asked what's the worst book she has ever read, proved herself the coolest of them all: "Any self-help books."

Erin O' Connor with friend

Stephanie Seymour, Elizabeth Jagger, Donna Karan and Marcus Schenkenberg

Marcus Schenkenberg

Elizabeth Jagger

Helen Lee Schiffer