For many of us, books were our first window to worlds beyond our own—places where stories taught us to imagine, hope, and dream. But what if you grew up without that access?
Larry Abrams, a retired high school English teacher, saw this reality firsthand and knew he had to change it. Through BookSmiles, Abrams is on a mission to ensure that every child, regardless of background, can experience the magic of books in their own home. Driven by his passion for literacy and community, Abrams has transformed his vision into a movement that empowers families and educators to create a culture of reading, one book at a time.
Read his interview.
What was the spark that led you to create BookSmiles, and how did your background as a teacher shape the organization’s mission?
I'm a retired high school English teacher. Several years ago, one of my students - a teen mom with a two-year-old, told me that reading wasn't part of her culture after I asked her what she was reading to her baby girl. Instead of lecturing her, I started a book drive on Facebook. The response was overwhelming. Now, after several years of building BookSmiles, I know that children will read at or beyond grade level if they grow up with access to books in the home, starting at infancy.
What lessons have you learned from BookSmiles’ journey that you think are key for anyone looking to start a community initiative?
Enthusiasm is everything. This is what compels people to donate time, treasure, and talent to help your mission. It also helps if you turn an original idea into reality as BookSmiles has done.
What are the unique strategies you’ve found to effectively engage both educators and communities in supporting literacy?
We have two major Philadelphia-area Food Banks taking between 10 and 20 pallets from us each month, working books into their food distribution.
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Teacher Take: This innovative program encourages up to 200 teachers each month to visit our Pennsauken NJ Book Bank to handpick books for their students to keep. Metaphorically, it’s what happens when an all-you-can-eat buffet gets combined with a children’s bookstore. Every Sunday morning and Wednesday afternoon, between 15-25 teachers from Philadelphia and New Jersey visit the Book Bank to get used, high-quality books for their young readers and for their classroom libraries
Without BookSmiles, these books would go to landfill or incinerators, and we’re proud to intercept several tons of them weekly.
Many teachers visit multiple times throughout the school year. Over 3,500 teachers have visited the BookSmiles Book Bank since 2019, taking 124 books on average each visit. Educators have distributed one-third of the 2.5 million books harvested by BookSmiles. With BookSmiles, students no longer feel deprived when commercial book fairs sell at their school.
Daycare Delivery: The research indicates that Pre-K students who enjoy access to books in the home are more likely to start kindergarten ‘reading-ready’ than their peers who lack books. We deliver 2,500 books weekly to a network of local daycares in low-income areas. Daycare owners and teachers become our emissaries as they give hundreds of books to families, encouraging the ritual of reading to children daily.
Our Daycare Delivery Coordinator tells the daycare owners/managers that BookSmiles will deliver more cases of books after the previous supply of free books has been distributed, and has already made several repeat visits.
Established in Summer 2024, the program was an instant success, delivering 6,485 books to 11 daycare centers in Camden and Trenton within the first month. Our program continues to grow in numbers and popularity. Your help will enable BookSmiles to extend the range of this service and expand the numbers of young readers receiving books for free.
How does BookSmiles address the broader issues of educational access, and what advice would you give to those looking to bridge gaps in their communities?
I would encourage others to follow our example. We can't give all children in underserved areas summer camp, ballet lessons, and trips to the museum, but we CAN give them access to books in their home, and we can do it for a very low price point because 99.6 percent of our books are upcycled!
What’s been one of the most rewarding moments in BookSmiles’ journey, and how did it reinforce the impact of your work?
The student who inspired me to start BookSmiles told me that her daughter is in 9th grade and LOVES English. Her two younger boys are avid readers. This is proof that kids who grow up with books in the house are more likely to be academically successful. This student has always been my North Star!
What are simple ways people can bring the spirit of BookSmiles into their own lives—whether by volunteering, starting a book drive, or encouraging reading at home?
We love it when people set up automated financial donations, appreciating those as little as $10 each month. We welcome all book donations, each week trading tons of grown-up books for tons of kids books. And of course, we encourage people to engage with us on social media.Â
Connect with Larry Abrams on LinkedIn.
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1000 Spotlights: Why We Give reflects our mission of giving back, to mentor and to inspire those around us. Through a series of interview questions, we explore intrinsic motivations behind why we give, and talk with those inclined to make a difference in the lives of others. If you are involved in charitable activities, volunteer and paid academic engagements or in community service, we want to talk to you.
In June 2023, FeedSpot.com recognized 1000 Spotlights as one of the top motivational blogs on the web. This magazine is committed to featuring individuals who are making a positive impact, without any pay-to-play agenda. Write to us to nominate someone exceptional who is making a difference in extraordinary ways.
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