Book Drives

Reading Is Revolutionary organizes book drives for new books to distribute to foster care children and caregivers through organizations, such as Carrying Hope, Montgomery County Route Kids Meals and CASA. We only collect and donate brand new books because we are adamant that children facing the emotional turmoil, anxiety, and disorientation of foster care be gifted books that make them feel valued.

 

Kids' Meals delivers meals to children facing food insecurity here locally. On their Montgomery County Route, they have a little more than 500 children that they serve. Village Books has put together a wish list of titles--all of the books are board books and most are under $10. Our goal is to hit the 500 mark of new books to donate, so that every child served by Montgomery County Route Kids' Meals can experience the comfort of a story. Here is the Wish List if you would like to contribute: https://myvillagebooks.indielite.org/wishlist/boclotridrisw. Please note at checkout that this is for Montgomery County Route Kids' Meals.

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Carrying Hope Houston is an organization that provides backpacks filled with necessities for children going into foster care. Reading Is Revolutionary's book drives add brand new books to those backpacks, and we have put together a wish list of suggested books. The majority of these books are under $10 and are paperback for ease of carrying. Our current book drive is for children ages toddler to 8 years old, with a few middle grade books included. Here is the Wish List: https://myvillagebooks.indielite.org/wishlist/trutodrabrose. Just check “I would like to pickup this order” and put “book drive” in the comments and we will order, and when it’s delivered to the store we will box up for Carrying Hope!

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Literary Festivals

Reading Is Revolutionary is introducing Read to Me, a new picture book festival in Montgomery County. The festival will include author-led story times, StoryJam!, games, storybook character visits, and other fun activities. The first Read to Me festival will be on Saturday, November 16.

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We also partner with The Woodlands Arts Council to bring Books on the Green to the iconic, three-day The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival. Books on the Green is designed to promote reading, literacy and storytelling to the entire family because the best way to raise a reader is to be a reader. The schedule features authors across genres, including picture and middle grade books, romance, thrillers, and contemporary fiction. In addition, librarians from the Montgomery County Memorial Library System join us in the Books on the Green tent, so that families can sign up for library cards. 

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StoryJam!

StoryJam! inspires young bookworms through an interactive story that gets them up and moving plus a fun group exercise that encourages them to create a story of their own. The free event inspires creativity and introduces children to the power of storytelling.

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She's Legend Workshops

She's Legend Workshops are led by local women who are doing extraordinary things every day in seemingly everyday ways. Through the workshops, these women--these legends--share their knowledge, experiences, and stories, encouraging, inspiring and motivating others to do the same. Topics have included making connections, focusing on creativity, living fearlessly, and being kind with boundaries. 

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Storytelling Competitions

Before there were books, there were storytellers. They were the community entertainers, the narrators of history, and the stewards of culture. Reading Is Revolutionary Storytelling Competitions, in partnership with Village Books, rekindle this ancient art form. Stories shared are both heartfelt and hilarious, and they serve to connect the storytellers and the audience.

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The Reading Is Revolutionary Packhorse Library

Nearly 90 years after the first WPA-sponsored packhorse librarian cinched her saddle and giddy-upped into the remote areas of Appalachia to distribute reading materials during the Great Depression, the nonprofit Reading Is Revolutionary is introducing its own Packhorse Library. The program is a tribute to the grit and determination of those librarians who faced extreme conditions in their efforts to reach isolated homesteads and schoolhouses with books and other reading materials. Founded in 1934, the governmental program was part of the Work Progress Administration during the Great Depression to promote literacy and education. Our 21st century interpretation of the packhorse library invites kids to their local library branch to meet the officers and horses of the mounted patrol and receive free books. The librarians then sign them up for a library card and introduce them to the free and fun activities of their neighborhood library. Our hope is to create, inspire and engage a new generation of readers. Sponsored by Dr. Gareth and Heidi Adams & Family, Global Shop Solutions, and Lake Creek Academy. Reading Partners include:

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Bonnie Divina Maa

Faith Brown

Emily Harris

Susan Darnell

Dodie Spencer

Terri Larson

Crystal Spires

Jen Blackman

Nickole and Darren Bobley

Sharlene Novak

Elizabeth Foley

Misty Gipson

Doni Langlois

Anita Bangale

Shelley Edelmann

Terri Olson

Jenifer Sarah Wright

Kimi Bradshaw

Mary Lawson

Mandi Allsobrook

Jackie Ingram

Laurel Cutter

Julie Hinson

HeidiAdams

Cynthia Peters

Cecille Wright

Tanya Rhoades

Christy Cree

Mey Ripper

Elizabeth Sargent

Lisa Doornik

Amy Hamrick

Michelle Potler

Cathy Jende Stevens

Melanie Minick

Rebecca Steffen

Mikey Rollins

Marie Willingham

Donna Ellis

Bonnie Bogert

Natalie Ivey

Mary Murray

Elisabeth Stevens

Jennifer Tran

Saba Kenny

Eileen McKay

Lorena Snyder

Suzette Uthman

Karen Bone

Adria Keeney

Carolina Garrido

Sheena Grigsby

Jill Heath

Maria Gough

Carla Nicholson

Amy Rauscher

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