Books for Kids

Our goal is to build a culture of reading for preschool-aged children in under-resourced communities. By providing access to brand new developmentally appropriate books in libraries, schools, and homes, we foster a lifelong love of reading and deliver the foundational early literacy skills that drive success in school and life.

Books for Kids provides developmentally and culturally appropriate books to libraries, teachers, and homes to foster a culture of reading for preschool-aged children in under-resourced communities. We offer three core programs: dynamic and interactive Story Times, Lending Libraries that reflect the communities they serve, and a Build a Home Library program that gives children at least 5 books annually to encourage family involvement.

Story Time is led each day by our credentialed Library Specialists. It is much more than simply reading books out loud. Through engaging lesson plans that incorporate conversations, songs, rhymes, body movements, art, props, and costumes, stories jump off the page and come alive. The academic impact of Story Time is lasting and profound. It increases language and critical thinking skills, builds vocabulary and phonemic awareness, and strengthens social and emotional learning.

We build our Lending Libraries in previously unused space of at least 250 square feet in a high-need preschools, early childhood education centers, Head Start programs, and homeless shelters. These previously blank or forgotten spaces are filled with colorful, print-rich décor and murals, and child-friendly furniture. Every library contains a core collection of approximately 1,000 books, ranging from current top-sellers to classic titles. We also continually update each collection with diverse and inclusive stories that are reflective of the communities they serve. Children can borrow book each week, and their overall return rate is over 90%.

Our Build a Home Library program gives five brand new developmentally appropriate books to every child our libraries serve each year. These home library collections encourage family involvement and ensure our children are surrounding by books in all of the places where they spend the majority of their time.

Books for Kids was founded in 1986, and we have been serving children in under-resourced communities ever since. We currently maintain over 45 libraries across the country that reach over 7,500 children each year. Our expert and credentialed Library Specialists engage our children each day while collaborating with parents and educators to foster a culture of reading.

Books for Kids maintains over 45 libraries across the country for preschool-aged children in under-resourced communities. These libraries were built in previously unused and forgotten spaces in preschools, community centers, Head Start programs, and homeless shelters. These libraries serve as resources for children, educators, and parents, and are essential tools for fostering a culture of reading. Our next goal is to build libraries in family shelters across New York City. During the ‘17-’18 school year, over 114,000 students in New York City schools—1 of every 10 students—experienced homelessness. Many were placed in shelters far from the schools where they are registered, making attendance difficult. Our libraries will ensure these children will have access to brand new developmentally appropriate books and foundational literacy programs led by our Library Specialists.