Free Book Festivals
Our Kids Read Free Book Festivals are celebrations of books and reading! OKR partners with schools and community centers across the country to bring:
- free books (each student receives 3 free book to take home with then)
- West African drummers or Latin American musicians
- an invitation to join the OKR evening virtual reading program (our Reading Buddies program)
Upcoming Free Book Festivals
Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children Harlem Literacy Event
Location: Harlem, NY
Description: Our Kids Read and the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children (DABC) are teaming up to donate books for a K-5th grade literacy event.
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Bissel Community Gardens Planting Day with State Senator
Location: Bronx, NY
Description: Our Kids Read is donating books in support of a request by Bissel community gardens to add books to a planting day with 60 eleentary-aged students and NY State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey. Books will be geared towards the "green thumb crowd" including "Lola Plants a Garden" and "Indigo Blume and the Garden City"
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Microsoft Bring Your Daughter or Son to Work Day
Location: Reston, VA
Description: For the 2nd consecutive year OKR has accepted an invitation to add books to the Reston, VA Microsoft "Bring Your Daughter or Son to Word Day" celebration on April 25, 2024. Many of the books OKR brings will match Microsoft's technology focus, including "Ada Twist, Scientist" and "Andrew Learns About Engineers"
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Dia de los Niños/ Día del los Libros Celebration
Location: Richmond, VA
Description: Our Kids Read, in partnership with the Richmond Public Library, is bringing free books for children and bilingual storytelling to this year's Día de los Niños celebration! This is the 3rd year in a row that Our Kids Read has supported this Richmond, VA-area bilingual (English/Spanish) event.
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Princeton Reunions Class of 1979 Literacy Service Event
Location: Princeton, NJ
Description: 2nd grade students at Mosser Elementary will participate in an afternoon of interactive storytelling West African drumming.
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Detroit Community Resource and Literacy JUNETEENTH Celebration - Ford Fund (FREC)
Location: Detroit, MI
Our Kids Read is partnering for the 2nd consecutive year with the Ford Motor Company Resource and Engagement Center (FREC) Detroit! OKR will bring books and storytellers to the June 15th event. Children will also be invited to participate in the Our Kids Read evening remote virtual Reading Buddies program.
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Jasmine Nyree Center Pittsburgh Summer Literacy Celebration
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Description: Excited to partner with Erie Insurance, our newest corporate partner, to deliver over 500 books to the K-5th grade students at the Jasmin Nyree community center in Pittsburgh, PA.Students will receive three free books each and will be entertained by storytelling and West African drumming.
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Free Book Festival Video Library
Nike Global HQ
Beaverton, OR
In partnership with Boise-Eliot Elementary School, a Portland public school, and Nike, we brought 42 student to Nike Global HQ in Beaverton, OR. Nike executive leaders read with the students and West African drummer and storyteller Yaw Amponsah held students entranced with stories of Anansi the spider.
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
In partnership with Trenton, NJ elementary school,| Foundation Academy and the Princeton University’s Class of 1998, OKR planned and executed a literacy event featuring a tour of Firestone Library, a tour of Princeton’s class, a visit by celebrity Princeton Men’s basketball coach Mitch Henderson, visit from celebrity guest 6-year old author Cassidy Bridges (author of “Thank you! It’s an Afro!”), professional storytelling by OKR storyteller Simi Murumba and masater drummer Fitz Sam and much more.
Boys and Girls Club
Bronx, NY
In partnership with the Joe E. Smilow Boys and Girls clubhouse, Our Kids Read brought over 1,200 books and master storyteller Simi Murumba to get students excited about readiny