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
Forest Edge Elementary x Ragnarok Free Book Festival
Location: Reston, VA
Our Kids Read and Ragnarok Technologies have teamed up again! Special thanks to Principal Rogers at Forest Edge Elementary School, we are exciting to bring free books an storytelling to Forest Edge K-3rd grade students!
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Microsoft Giving Month Event: Literacy Festival for Forest Edge 4th - 6th Graders!
Location: Reston, VA
Description: Our Kids Read is honored to partner with Microsoft during Microsoft's October Giving Month. OKR and Microsoft have selected to support Forest Edge Elementary School in Reston, VA this year. We will bring over 500 books, storytellers and invitations to join the OKR evening Reading Buddies program for the Forest Edge 4th-6th grade classes.
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Recent Free Book Festivals
Glenmount Elementary School Back-to-School Resource Fair
Baltimore, MD
Thanks to a generous book grant from the Baltimore Community Foundation, Our Kids Read will bring over 500 books to the Glenmount Elementary School Back-to-School Fair. In addition, students will have the opportunity to sign up for the Our Kids Read evening remote Reading Buddies program.
Yankee Stadium x Scholastic Book Festival
Bronx, NY
Our Kids Read and the NYC Public Schools District 9 and the New York Yankees teamed up for a 2024 Back-to-School Resource Fair. Thanks to a generous gift from Scholastic, over 4,000 books were distributed to students in largely underserved communities of New York City.
ARCO x Oak Cliff Cultural Center
Dallas, TX
Our Kids Read partnered with Activating Reading Communities Organization (ARCO) to give away culturally responsive books and bring storytellers to the children of Dallas, TX! Special thanks to the Oak Cliff Cultural Center for hosting this event and thanks to the City of Dallas for sponsoring the storytellers at the event through the Community Artist Program (CAP).
Jasmine Nyre Center x Erie Insurance
Pittsburgh, PA
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.
Ford Motor Company Foundation
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.
Princeton Reunions 2024
Princeton, NJ
Our Kids Read, in partnership with the Princeton University Class of 1979 and the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni (APGA) brought a Free Book Festival to the 2024 Princeton Reunions!
As part of this year's 2024 Princeton Reunions, Our Kids Read partnered with the Class of 1979 and the APGA to bring a group of 5th graders from a local Trenton elementary school for a day of literacy and mentorship. The Class of '79 service event featured events at Firestone Library, a campus tour, storytelling and, of course, FREE BOOKS for every student!
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.