Nonprofit Organization
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STORY TIME
Our story time program brings joyful, engaging read-aloud experiences directly into the classroom. Volunteers visit Kindergarten through 3rd-grade classrooms to share high-quality, culturally relevant books that reflect students’ identities, families, and lived experiences.
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Reading aloud is one of the most effective ways to support early literacy development. Research shows that regularly hearing stories read aloud strengthens children’s language skills, builds vocabulary, improves attention span, and boosts early brain development. Research also finds that read-aloud time increases motivation to read independently and supports stronger reading comprehension as students grow.
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At the end of each visit, every student receives their very own brand-new copy of the featured book to take home—helping build personal home libraries and reinforcing the powerful connection between hearing stories at school and continuing that love of reading at home.
BOOK CLUB
Our Book Club program is offered as an after-school enrichment opportunity for students in 4th through 6th grade. Each participant receives their own copy of the selected book and meets weekly with our volunteers to engage in meaningful discussion, guided activities, and reflection designed to strengthen comprehension and critical-thinking skills.
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Research shows that book clubs play a powerful role in literacy development. Studies indicate that when students discuss texts with peers, they deepen comprehension, improve vocabulary, build confidence, and become more motivated readers. Collaborative reading experiences also support higher-level thinking by encouraging students to analyze characters, themes, and real-world connections in a supportive group setting.
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All Book Club lessons are designed and overseen by a licensed Cincinnati Public Schools educator, ensuring that activities align with grade-level literacy standards and promote measurable growth.
BOOK FAIR
Every child deserves access to books—regardless of their family’s income. Our Free Book Fair was created with this belief at its core. We wanted students to experience the joy and excitement of a book fair without the worry of cost, and without families having to choose between essential expenses and literacy resources.
Research shows that giving children the freedom to choose their own books significantly increases their motivation to read and their likelihood of continuing to read independently. Studies highlight that student book choice is directly linked to stronger reading engagement, higher comprehension, and long-term literacy growth. Equally important, further research demonstrates that owning books at home has a measurable impact on academic success—children with even a small home library show stronger reading performance and improved vocabulary development. For many families, especially those facing financial barriers, free access to books is a critical part of creating these opportunities.
To date, we have successfully hosted five Free Book Fairs in Cincinnati Public Schools, ensuring every student walked away with two brand-new books—completely free. By putting books directly into students’ hands and homes, we’re helping build a foundation for a lifelong love of reading.