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Birdie's Bookmobile is a non-profit organization addressing generational illiteracy patterns by getting books into the hands and homes of children and families in Detroit.
We are dedicated to making quality diverse books more accessible, increasing the number of books children have access to at home, and improving literacy outcomes.
Hatched June 2022
Our Impact
Birdie's Bookmobile has distributed more than
17,000 new and gently used books to children and families in partnership with schools, community organizations, and police precincts.
We have installed and steward sixteen Little Free Libraries at schools and non-profit organizations in communities in Detroit.
Birdie's Bookmobile developed a replicable book collection, distribution, and engagement model that other organizations are using.
Metro Detroit Schools
and Organizations
Our community partners are the backbone of our work. With their help,
Birdie's Bookmobile has distributed over 17,000 books to the children and families they serve.
313Reads
Barack Obama Leadership Academy
Brightmoor Alliance, Inc.
Brilliant Detroit
Bunche Preparatory Academy
Carstens Elementary Middle School
Center for Success Network
Central Detroit Christian
Detroit Community Solutions
Detroit Enterprise Academy
Detroit Institue for Children
Detroit Merit Charter Academy
Detroit Parent Network
Detroit Parks & Recreation
Detroit Prep
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
Developing Despite Distance
Downtown Boxing Gym
Edward "Duke" Ellington
Emagine Health Services
Girlz Empowered
Hope House
Laurus Academy
MACC Development
Mack Avenue Community Church
Marcus Garvey Academy
Marion Law Academy
Matrix Human Services Head Start
Mosaic Youth Theater Summer Camp
Nichols Elementary and Middle School
Racquet Up
Renaissance Head Start
Soar Detroit
Southeastern High School
Strategic Community Partners
Sundrops Playschool
The James and Grace Lee Boggs School
The School at Marygrove
Thirkell Elementary-Middle
Urban Neighborhood Initiative
Voyageur Academy
YMCA Detroit
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Funders
Awesome Foundation Ann Arbor
Teach for America
The Holley Foundation
The Junior League of Detroit
United Way of Southeastern Michigan
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Thank You for Your Support
27th Letter Books
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
Bookstock
Brilliant Detroit
Central Detroit Christian
Eastern Market
Ford
Next Chapter Books
Rocket Connections
Starbucks
The Congregation
The Guerrilla Politic
University of Michigan
Wayne State University
Free Book Fairs!
Birdie's Bookmobile distributes FREE BOOKS at no cost to students, schools, and
partner organizations in Detroit via recurring grade-banded monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly book fairs. We also offer embedded literacy enrichment programs.
Birdie’s Bookmobile is doing powerful, joyful work to bring books to our children and community! No child should grow up in a book desert and Birdie’s grows book access and literacy with every single book they provide.
Birdie’s also provides enriching programming that promotes book joy — one of our favorite Birdie’s memories is children and families eagerly gathered together around the book bus learning about how honey is made from a local beekeeper and Ms. Alyce sharing related books that got them even more excited about insects and nature. Birdie’s brings books alive!
Dr. Leah van Belle
Executive Director
313Reads
Donate Used Books
Reading plays a crucial role in a child's development. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to quality books. Birdie's Bookmobile will share your donations of gently used books with children and
families in Detroit.
Your book donations will help build home libraries, encourage shared reading experiences, and improve literacy outcomes.
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Birdie's Bookmobile will pick up books or books can be dropped off.
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Connect with us to donate books!
Host a Book Drive
Hosting a book drive is a great way to partner with Birdie's Bookmobile in our literacy work. Book drives can be held in one or more locations or virtually.
Our book drive toolkit provides all the information and resources needed to organize and run a successful book drive — including, a checklist, flyers, approved logos, and email and social media templates.
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Connect with us to host a book drive!
Buy New Books
Amazon Wish List
We have a curated list of board books, picture books, graphic novels, chapter books, and YA books on our Amazon Wish List. The books on our list are interesting and relatable, use engaging language, and are beautifully illustrated.
These selections will make great additions to the home libraries of children and teens in Detroit.
Books ship directly from Amazon.
Read Aloud
A few favorites from the bookmobile we love to read aloud. Click the picture to learn more about the books featured on Birdie's Book List!
Join Our Book Club!
Birdie's Book Club offers literacy strategies and developmentally appropriate tips for stimulating language development, teaching reading, and helping struggling readers at home and in the classroom.
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