Our Program
New for 2025-2026!
With Book Trust, students curate personal libraries,
teachers have the tools to create joyful reading experiences,
and schools foster a culture of literacy!
We believe in the transformative power of joyful reading experiences. When students choose books that spark their curiosity and have meaningful moments to revisit these stories again and again, they are more likely to develop a love of reading and become more attentive, enthusiastic readers.
After 25 years of spreading the joy and power of reading to more than 530,000 students, we want to deepen impact for young readers. The future of our work takes the experience of reading to the next level, pairing book access and choice with joyful reading experiences in service of cultivating reading engagement.
Our bold vision is fueled by a belief that children are more likely to sustain their engagement with books when reading becomes a shared, joyful experience.
Our Approach
Our program builds on the expertise of educators and the natural curiosity of students. Over the course of the school year, teachers in Pre-K through Grade 5 Book Trust classrooms oversee the key components of the program by:
Expanding Book Access
Book Trust partners with more than 100 Title I schools across the country to bring books of choice and joyful reading experiences to the students who need them most.
Empowering Book Choice
By giving students the power to choose, we transform reading into a personal adventure. Book selection opportunities include a rich variety of age-appropriate, culturally affirming books in English and Spanish. Students make decisions illuminated by their own interests, curiosity, and joy.
Cultivating the Joy of Reading
Creating joyful reading moments early on builds positive associations essential for developing sustained engagement. We celebrate students’ book choices and partner with schools and families to enhance reading with engaging activities. This dedicated time for deeper connection to books and reading activates each student’s growing personal library in new ways!
Increasing Book Ownership
Every book added to a personal library equips children to become literacy ambassadors, transforming classroom discoveries into vibrant new ideas and conversations among families, friends, and communities.
How It Works New for 2025-2026 School Partners
Book Trust selects more than 100 school partners across the country and implements a nine-month program that complements all school literacy efforts.
The program consists of:
- An onboarding to the program structure and process for the year
- A simple three-cycle approach (fall, winter, and spring). Each cycle includes:
•A Book Selection Opportunity
Students select from a broad range of grade-level, culturally relevant books using $12 stipends to freely spend on the books that spark their curiosity
•Engagement Opportunities
Bimonthly resources and experiences through which schools and families lead simple and playful activities - An engaging closeout of the program year focused on understanding how students are progressing and celebrating milestones
Books for Children, from the Children’s Book Expert
Book Trust is a long-standing, trusted sponsor of Scholastic Book Clubs. By collaborating with the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, we offer schools curated, developmentally and culturally relevant print book options for Pre-K through Grade 5 students at a fraction of the cost to schools.
“Scholastic is proud of our more than two decades of work with Book Trust to provide all kids in participating schools the exciting experience of picking books for themselves through Scholastic Book Clubs…”
– Alison Angell, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships for Scholastic
From Brooklyn to Maui, Book Trust reaches students and teachers across all communities, and the impact shows.
Making Connections:
Funders Support Early Literacy Tools, Schools Foster a Culture of Literacy
As a nonprofit organization, Book Trust seeks outside donations and funding partners to cover program costs. School partners cover a fraction of program expenses except for instances when philanthropic funds are designated.
Help Book Trust provide more students with the opportunity to select, celebrate and own books!
