OUR PROGRAMS
From weekly story times to free book fairs, BSB runs programs that put books directly into the hands — and homes — of children who need them most.
BSB Program
GROWING YOUNG READERS
Our partnership with the WIC Programs of Summit, Portage and Medina Counties puts age-appropriate board and picture books directly into the hands of thousands of limited-resource children. Since April of 2015, BSB has given out more than 300,000 books to WIC clients, and been honored with the State of Ohio's "Friends of WIC" Award.
Our goal is to give 5 age-appropriate books twice a year to each of the nearly 10,000 children enrolled in these three counties every year!
BSB Program
FREE BOOK FAIRS
Partnering with Akron Public Schools, Bright Star Books staff and volunteers facilitate Free Book Fairs that bring in thousands of leveled readers, picture books, chapter books and nonfiction sorted by topic and reading level. Every student in grades K-5th is given a chance to select 5 books to take home as their own.
We also have volunteers ready to help every child find the books they will be most excited about and — we hope! — read over and over!
BSB Program
STORY TIMES
Since November 2018, Bright Star Books has been supplementing our book giving by holding weekly one-on-one story times at Summit County WIC clinics, modeling parent/child lap-reading best practices and pre-literacy skills. Every child also receives a copy of the book to take home.
The Story Time program also includes weekly sessions at Access, Inc. homeless shelter — bringing the joy of reading to children in every corner of our community.
BSB Program
COMMUNITY GIVING
As a small, independent nonprofit, BSB has great flexibility to supply books through any partnership we feel fulfills our Mission, utilizing the books not needed for our main programs.
Those partnerships include Good Neighbors Food Pantries, The City of Akron and Summit Education Initiative's Summer Reading Program, Urban Vision's "On Your Mark" Program, and many more!
Community Partners
STRONGER TOGETHER
BSB works alongside Good Neighbors Food Pantries, The City of Akron, Summit Education Initiative's Summer Reading Program, Urban Vision's "On Your Mark" Program, Access, Inc., and many more community organizations — because getting books to kids takes a village.
HELP US REACH MORE KIDS
Donate books, volunteer at a book fair, or run a drive — every action expands our reach.