Last week, I drove out to FlyteCo Tower, the original flight tower for the old Stapleton Airport. Now home to a brewery and an entertainment space with mini-golf, a bowling alley and a golf simulator, it was also the venue for a special event in Denver: the Book Lovers and Friends Bash—a fundraising event for the non-profit organization Book Trust.
I first connected with Book Trust last December, when I wrote about Colorado literacy and book non-profits, and was drawn to the organization’s mission and the exciting energy buzzing around the work they do. Book Trust, a national 501c(3) with roots in Colorado, partners with Scholastic, donors and educators, to provide students in Title I elementary schools with the opportunity to choose and keep their own books, at no cost to their families.
“It’s no small feat to get custom catalogs of choice for kiddos to pick books they’re interested in and want. Our program’s team works with Scholastic to make that happen and get them shipped to the classroom, six times a year,” Vice President of Development, Ben Reuler, told me at the event. But the effort is worth it—so says the research, yes, but mostly, so says the joy exhibited on the kids’ faces. “There are six order windows and every time those books arrive, there’s a Book Celebration. Joy is our secret sauce. It’s magical. We want kids to feel excited and happy when they get their books.”
At the Book Lovers Bash, leaders and board members from Book Trust presented stories of success with a video of children participating in their Book Celebration. “Some kiddos do forts under their desks, some share with their reading buddies. These are books they want, that they get to keep for free. They can take them home or wherever they live and share them with their siblings,” Reuler told me, which greatly expands the program’s reach.
It’s no surprise that Book Trust is having an impact on literacy. Reuler explained, “Research shows that if you have a book you want to read, you’re more likely to engage with it. You’re more likely to become a better reader. First grade, let them read what they want to read. Second grade, let them grab a graphic novel. Help them develop a love of reading.”
But the ripple effect is much greater. Book Trust doesn’t simply encourage reading; it provides children with a sense of ownership, from choosing the books they want—real books they can write their names in—to building personal libraries. “There’s research that shows that when kids have 15-25 books at home, it makes a significant difference in their educational and literacy journeys,” Reuler said. However, many students don’t have that privilege. “I was blessed to have a lot of books at my fingertips growing up. For many, that’s not the case. These kids now have books that they can take home from school. And we intentionally call them personal libraries, not home libraries, because not all of these students have a home.”
As Book Trust expands its mission to include more schools, higher grade levels and even literacy advocacy at the national level, the consideration of students with all backgrounds fit into this programming is of the greatest importance. “Our founder was intentional: every student in a Book Trust classroom is part of the Book Trust program. There’s no stigma. The whole class gets to experience the joy of choosing, owning, getting to keep their books together. It’s really special, and that equity component is not by accident.”
The latest national report card shows childhood literacy at staggeringly low rates—and reading levels aren’t the only thing falling. “This country has seen a decline in charitable donations over the last 20 years. More philanthropic dollars are coming from a select few high-net-worth individuals,” said Reuler. Awareness and donations are needed to keep up the good work and care for children’s futures. “We invite monthly donations, online donations, restricted donations for your state, or unrestricted for the organization. You can also run friend-raisers. Have a house party. Help us reach new people. We need ambassadors—our small and mighty staff can only do so much.”
All it takes to be convinced, Reuler told me: “Come to a Book Celebration. Joy is our secret sauce. It’s magical.”
Reuler and I ended our conversation, and I mingled through the room with other Book Trust supporters: teachers, representatives from Children’s Affairs and activists. We took turns tossing darts and swinging golf clubs, bidding on silent auction prizes and eating fries, and underneath all that, I sensed the joy Book Trust strives to generate. We all played together, and we celebrated. And it was pretty magical.
Learn more about Book Trust and getting involved here.