Open Books

During the 2022-2023 academic year, Open Books served students through book access and reading support programs. Reading buddies focused on building fluency, student confidence, and reading level growth in 2nd and 3rd grade students at schools and afterschool programs in north lawndale. Open book'Books's early literacy storytime partnered with various organizations to engage caregivers and families in fundamental literacy concepts they can practice at home. In an effort to better prepare children for kindergarten success, Open Books early childhood residency program brought instructors into home daycares. Families with children ages 0-5 were also enrolled in dolly parton's imagination library, a book access initiative aimed at increasing Books in the home. We granted over 118,000 Books through classroom book grants, whole school book grants, as well as our free children's book section at Open Books pilsen. In addition to Open Books's literacy programs, community events were a core part of our work with north lawndale reads. As part of north lawndale reads, Open Books builds and maintains little free libraries and book nooks across north lawndale and surrounding communities, and provides free Books and literacy activities at community events.