Family Literacy
While Lead to Read KC’s programming is largely focused on our partnerships with Kansas City schools, we know that the most important resource for family literacy is – well, family!
Here are just a few tools to help make reading a positive and enjoyable activity for everyone in your home:
Free Books
Reading Is EverywhereSM is Lead to Read KC’s community book distribution program. We strategically place baskets of books in places where children are often waiting to encourage reading outside of school.
Children can select a free book to take home, and Lead to Read KC replenishes the baskets with additional books each month. View the map or scroll down for a list of our publicly accessible locations. (Updated June 2024)
Amethyst Place
Avenue of Life
Bai The Way Salon
The Borough
Capital One Cafe
Children's Mercy Broadway Family Engagement Clinic
The Children's Place
Colonial Presbyterian Church Food Pantry
Dedicated Senior Medical Center
Draque's Barbershop
Early StART Preschool (Metro)
Early StART Preschool (St. Mark's)
Equal Minded Cafe
Foreign Language Academy
Forest Glen Estates
Grace United Church
Gumby's Barbershop
Holmes Gardens Association
Joe's Barbershop
KCMO Health Department
KCPD Headquarters
Latinx Education Collaborative
Maple Hill Laundry
McLain's Bakery
Midtown Laundry
Mimi's Pantry
Mimi's 4 Kids
MO Hives KC
Mt. Carmel Redevelopment Corp. Food Pantry
Mt. Carmel Redevelopment Corp. Willa Gill Center
One City Cafe at Bishop Sullivan Center
PH Coffee
Reconciliation Services
ReStart
River of Refuge
Ruby Jean's Juicery
The Salvation Army East Side
Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center
Seton Center
Sheffield Place
St. Monica Catholic Church Food Pantry
Surr Cutts Barber Shop
Swope Health (Central)
Terrace Pointe Apartments
University Health Futures Clinic
The Windmill KC
Wyandotte Family EyeCare Center
Yogurtini on the Plaza
You Say Tomato
Your Natural Image Salon
Amethyst Place
2735a Troost Ave, KCMO 64109
Avenue of Life
500 N 7th Trafficway, KCK 66101
Bai the Way Salon
3568 Broadway Blvd, KCMO 64111
Bishop Sullivan Center
3936 Troost Ave, KCMO 64110
The Borough
8026 The Paseo, KCMO 64131
Capital One Cafe
430 Nichols Rd, KCMO 64112
Children’s Mercy Broadway Family Engagement Clinic
3101 Broadway Blvd, KCMO 64111
The Children’s Place
6401 Rockhill Rd, KCMO 64131
Colonial Presbyterian Church Food Pantry
9500 Wornall Rd, KCMO 64114
Dedicated Senior Medical Center
4400 E 39th St, KCMO 64128
Draque’s Barbershop
106 W 39th St, KCMO 64111
Early StART Preschool (Metro)
827 Troost Ave, KCMO 64106
Early StART Preschool (St. Mark’s)
2008 E 12th St, KCMO 64127
Equal Minded Cafe
4327 Troost Ave, KCMO 64110
Foreign Language Academy
3450 Warwick Blvd, KCMO 64111
Forest Glen Estates
511 N 64th St, KCK 66102
Grace United Church
811 Benton Blvd, KCMO 64124
Gumby’s Barbershop
12 E 39th St, KCMO 64111
Holmes Gardens Association
649 Bannister Rd, KCMO 64131
Joe’s Barbershop
1672 E 63rd St, KCMO 64110
KCMO Health Department
2400 Troost Ave, KCMO 64108
KCPD Headquarters
1125 Locust St, KCMO 64106
Latinx Education Collaborative
2203 Lexington Ave, KCMO 64124
Maple Hill Laundry
2424 S 34th St, KCK 66106
McLain’s in Shawnee
5833 Nieman Road, Shawnee 66203
McLain’s in Waldo
201 E Gregory Blvd, KCMO 64114
Midtown Laundry
6398 Troost Ave, KCMO 64131
Mimi’s Pantry
2255 NW Vivion Rd, KCMO 64150
Mimi’s 4 Kids
3715 N Oak Trafficway, KCMO 64116
MO Hives KC
5030 Wabash Ave, KCMO 64130
Mt. Carmel Redevelopment Corporation Food Pantry
1130 Troup Ave, KCK 66104
Mt. Carmel Redevelopment Corporation Willa Gill Center
645 Nebraska Ave, KCK 66101
One City Cafe
3936 Troost Ave, KCMO 64110
PH Coffee
2200 Lexington Ave, KCMO 64124
Reconciliation Services
1006 Linwood Blvd, KCMO 64109
ReStart
918 E 9th St, KCMO 64106
River of Refuge
5155 Raytown Rd, KCMO 64133
Ruby Jean’s Juicery
3000 Troost Ave, KCMO 64109
The Salvation Army East Side
3013 E 9th St, KCMO 64124
Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center
825 Euclid Ave, KCMO 64124
Second Missionary Baptist Church
5111 Harry Truman Dr, KCMO 64030
Seton Center
2816 E 23rd St, KCMO 64127
Sheffield Place
6604 E 12th St, KCMO 64126
St. Monica Catholic Church Food Pantry
1400 E 17th St, KCMO 64106
Surr Cutts Barber Shop
6015 Swope Pkwy, KCMO 64130
Swope Health (Central)
3801 Blue Pkwy, KCMO 64130
Terrace Pointe Apartments
641 S 71st St, KCK 66111
University Health Futures Clinic
300 W 19th Terrace, KCMO 64108
The Windmill KC
840 S 55th St, KCK 66106
Wyandotte Family EyeCare Center
21 N 12th St Suite 102, KCK 66102
Yogurtini on the Plaza
4853 Main St, KCMO 64112
You Say Tomato
2801 Holmes St, KCMO 64109
Your Natural Image Salon
641 E 59th St, KCMO 64110
Online Resources
Here are just a few of the online resources available for parents who want to help teach their children to read. Plus, don’t miss Lead to Read KC’s mental health and wellness focused online read-alouds.
Home Reading Helper
This website from Read Charlotte offers targeted resources, including fun activities and games, based on your child’s age and reading goals.
PBS Kids
Filter and sort through thousands of videos and other resources focused on foundational reading skills for children of any age.
Toddlers Can Read
Don’t wait for your child to begin school! Find step-by-step guidance for teaching your little one to read – starting as early as 18 months old.
Scholastic
Learn which books all the kids are excited about and find recommendations for your child based on their age and reading ability.
Community Events
Check out some of the family- and resource-oriented events coming up below, or view the full calendar.