Free Books
Free Book Festivals
Our Kids Read Free Book Festivals are celebrations of books and reading! OKR partners with schools and community centers across the country to bring:
Free Book Libraries
free books (each student receives 3 free book to take home with then).
Live Performances
West African drummers or Latin American musicians.
Ongoing Support
an invitation to join the OKR evening virtual reading program (our Reading Buddies program).
Princeton University 2025 Reunions Service Event
This year’s OKR x Princeton University Reunions Service Event will bring 50 5th grade students from the Thomas Jefferson Intermedia School in Trenton to Princeton’s campus for a LITEARCY DAY! We will bus the students to campus then treat them to a campus tour, a special event at Firestone library, a storytelling event and a literacy activity with alumni Tigers. Before the students go home they will get ti pick ten (10) free books to take home with them.
Students get a campus tour, special event at Firestone Library, storytelling, and literacy activities with alumni Tigers — then pick 10 free books to take home.
School: Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School
Sponsored by: Princeton Classes of 1975, Class of 2010, and APGA.
Microsoft Giving Month Event: Literacy Festival for Forest Edge 4th - 6th Graders!
Description: Our Kids Read is honored to partner with Microsoft during Microsoft's October Giving Month. OKR and Microsoft have selected to support Forest Edge Elementary School in Reston, VA this year. We will bring over 500 books, storytellers and invitations to join the OKR evening Reading Buddies program for the Forest Edge 4th-6th grade classes.
Volunteers & Support: Microsoft
Recent Free Book Festivals
play_circle Watch Video
Glenmount Elementary School Back-to-School Resource Fair
Thanks to a generous book grant from the Baltimore Community Foundation, Our Kids Read brought over 500 books to Glenmount Elementary School's back-to-school fair. Students were also invited to join the evening remote Reading Buddies program.
play_circle Watch Video
Yankee Stadium × Scholastic Back-to-School Resource Fair
DESCRIPTION: Our Kids Read and the NYC Public Schools District 9 and the New York Yankees teamed up for a 2024 Back-to-School Resource Fair. Thanks to a generous gift from Scholastic, over 4,000 books were distributed to students in largely underserved communities of New York City.
ARCO × Oak Cliff Cultural Center
DESCRIPTION: Our Kids Read partnered with Activating Reading Communities Organization (ARCO) to give away culturally responsive books and bring storytellers to the children of Dallas, TX! Special thanks to the Oak Cliff Cultural Center for hosting this event and thanks to the City of Dallas for sponsoring the storytellers at the event through the Community Artist Program (CAP).
Video: Not available yet.
play_circle Watch Video
Jasmine Nyree Center Summer Literacy Celebration
DESCRIPTION: Excited to partner with Erie Insurance, our newest corporate partner, to deliver over 500 books to the K-5th grade students at the Jasmin Nyree community center in Pittsburgh, PA.Students will receive three free books each and will be entertained by storytelling and West African drumming.
play_circle Watch Video
Annual Harlem Pop-Up in the Park
DESCRIPTION: Every year, Our Kids Read brings 1,000 books and sets up shop in Thomas Jefferson Park on 111th street during the month of July to get diverse books in the NYC community!
Each year, our key NYC partner, Verizon SOMOS (Verizon's Hispanic Employee affinity group and OKR's oldest NYC supporter), brings volunteers and great energy to this fantastic book giveaway. Special thanks to all off the storytellers who performed this year!
Detroit Community Resource & Literacy Juneteenth Celebration
DESCRIPTION: Our Kids Read is partnering for the 2nd consecutive year with the Ford Motor Company Resource and Engagement Center (FREC) Detroit! OKR will bring books and storytellers to the June 15th event. Children will also be invited to participate in the Our Kids Read evening remote virtual Reading Buddies program.
Video: Not available yet.
play_circle Watch Video
Princeton Reunions Class of 1979 Literacy Service Event
DESCRIPTION: Our Kids Read, in partnership with the Princeton University Class of 1979 and the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni (APGA) brought a Free Book Festival to the 2024 Princeton Reunions!
As part of this year's 2024 Princeton Reunions, Our Kids Read partnered with the Class of 1979 and the APGA to bring a group of 5th graders from a local Trenton elementary school for a day of literacy and mentorship. The Class of '79 service event featured events at Firestone Library, a campus tour, storytelling and, of course, FREE BOOKS for every student!
play_circle Watch Video
Nike Global HQ Literacy Event
DESCRIPTION: In partnership with Boise-Eliot Elementary School, a Portland public school, and Nike, we brought 42 student to Nike Global HQ in Beaverton, OR. Nike executive leaders read with the students and West African drummer and storyteller Yaw Amponsah held students entranced with stories of Anansi the spider.
play_circle Watch Video
Princeton Reunions Class of 1998 Literacy Service Event
Our Kids Read, in partnership with the Princeton University Class of 1998 brought a Free Book Festival to the 2024 Princeton Reunions. As part of this event, a group of 5th graders from Foundation Academies, a Trenton elementary school, joined for a day of literacy and mentorship.
The Class of '98 service event featured activities at Firestone Library, a campus tour, storytelling, and FREE BOOKS for every student.
play_circle Watch Video
Seattle Children's Hospital Festival
DESCRIPTION: Our Kids Read and the Seattle Children's Hospital (SCH) combined forces to get diverse books into the Seattle Community!