Our mission is to foster the development of recreational reading habits beyond the classroom among students in underperforming schools. We do this by providing fun, recreational reading books to stock in-classroom lending libraries for pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. 

 

We have just four rules:
1. No teacher or student HAS to participate – but almost everyone does

2. There is to be NO penalty if a book is lost or damaged – Our experience shows kids are VERY good about returning the books in good condition. Many schools report they have virtually NO loss of books.

3. A letter or other communication is to go home from the principal at least once a year asking parents or caregivers to turn off electronics and read with their kids.

4. Teachers must fill out and return our survey each year covering how the Book Worm Angels program is working. We need their input. It is their suggestions that help this program to be one of the best literacy programs in the country.

 Learn more on the Book Worm Angels Fact Sheet.

 

To reach the neediest kids and schools, we target public elementary schools whose reading scores are low. Once a school agrees to be in our program, we provide 10 books per student, at no charge, for in-classroom libraries. Every year thereafter, we replenish with additional books.

 

We get our books by helping organize year-round book drives for new and gently-used children’s books and by partnering with publishers and other organizations. To date, we’ve collected over 2 million books, serve over 175 Chicago Public Elementary Schools as well as schools in Atlanta,GA, Aurora,IL, South Holland,IL, Boston,MA, Gary,IN, Hammond,IN, and Charleston,SC.

 

We provide a Teacher’s Manual with tips and incentives to encourage at-home reading. (Please be patient when downloading the manual. It may take a few minutes.)

 

To become a part of our program, please fill out the Book Worm Angels application.

Book Worm Angels is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Feel free to review our Audit Report.