My reading identity was forged on Saturday mornings at the public library, where my mom dropped me off while she ran errands, and under the covers at night, reading Ramona and Her Mother, imagining what my mom would do if I squirted a whole tube of toothpaste into the bathroom sink.
Books are like that, aren’t they? They capture our attention and take us to faraway places, or help us better understand our here-and-now by serving as mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors. Books are pathways, gateways, imagination-ignitors. Books matter, because the special hands that select them, and read them, matter.
Linda Hughes, Community Outreach Program Manager
Increasing Book Access
That’s why Lead to Read KC’s Reading Is Everywhere program exists: to ensure children and caregivers have access to a selection of free, high-interest books. Research shows that 92% of children are more likely to finish a book they choose themselves. Whether you’re into dogs or Pete the Cat, nature or Big Nate, our goal is to offer a range of titles in our 86 free book baskets across the metro.
Access changes outcomes. Increased access to books strengthens reading skills, yet income segregation significantly impacts children’s access to quality print materials. An interactive “book desert” map shows the likelihood of children having 100+ books in their homes. Zoom in on the KC Metro, and the need becomes clear: expanding access to a rich array of engaging, diverse books is essential to solving the literacy crisis in Kansas City.
That’s where you come in. Did you know that more than 90% of the books distributed by Lead to Read KC are donated? Corporate, civic and educational partners host book drives. Volunteers gather each month to sort, process, shelve and pack books for delivery. Others load up their cars and make deliveries, ensuring each location has a fresh supply of books to choose from. It truly takes a community to keep books flowing into the hands of young readers.
Book Battle 2026
To grow our supply of diverse, engaging books, Lead to Read KC is once again hosting a bracket-style book challenge. This year, we’re highlighting multiple authors with Kansas City connections to celebrate and amplify their wonderful work.
Each week, you can vote online to help your favorite titles advance, and you can purchase copies for the children we serve. Books purchased through our wish lists ship directly to Lead to Read KC, making it simple to turn your vote into impact.
Can you share 15 books with us? Help a child forge their own positive, affirming reader identity.
