About Book Trust
In collaboration with Scholastic, every student in a Book Trust classroom has access to a rich selection of culturally relevant, reading-level appropriate titles. Students choose books from Book Trust’s customized catalog throughout the year—at no cost to their families. Having the agency to make their own choices about what they read, and having books in the home, are critical to motivating young readers.
Book Trust acts as an equity game changer, ensuring that all students have access to books and the agency to make their own choices about what they read.
Book Trust aims to increase book choice and ownership, inspire a love of reading, and promote a culture of literacy in communities. Our program model is rooted in research findings that document the negative effects of poverty on students’ foundational academic skills, like reading.
Why We’re Here
Book access is the single biggest barrier to literacy and in low-income areas, the ratio of books-to-children is 1 book to 300 kids, compared to an average of 13 books for every child from a middle-income background.
Book Trust acts as an equity game changer, ensuring that students who need them most have access to books and the agency to make their own choices about what they read.
How We Work
Our goal is to create a culture of literacy in the classroom and the living room.
Book Trust provides low-income students a unique opportunity to choose and own their own books, which leads to the development of positive attitudes about reading, improved reading habits, and the creation of home libraries.
Our model is straightforward, powerful, and centered on five important concepts drawn from the research: consistency, choice, celebration, engaged reading, and family engagement.
Throughout the school year, students choose books from the Scholastic Book Clubs flyer. These free books then become cherished additions to the students’ home libraries – libraries that are enjoyed by siblings, family, and friends.
Book Trust also helps teachers and families create a positive culture of literacy in school and at home.
Our History
In 2001, Book Trust’s founder Adrienne Schatz recognized that many children did not have books at home. Adrienne decided to launch Book Trust, and she made a commitment more than twenty years ago to ensure all children have the opportunity to choose and own books from the Scholastic Book Clubs flyer throughout the school year.
Book Trust remains guided by these roots—that all children, regardless of where they live, can discover the joy and power of reading.
Adrienne piloted the Book Trust program with 170 students in Larimer County, Colorado, under the auspices of the Serimus Foundation. Book Trust was spun off as its own 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2006. Since then, we’ve served over 600,000 students.
In 2001, Book Trust’s founder Adrienne Schatz recognized that many children did not have books at home. Adrienne decided to launch Book Trust, and she made a commitment more than twenty years ago to ensure all children have the opportunity to choose and own books from the Scholastic Book Clubs flyer throughout the school year.
Book Trust remains guided by these roots – that all children, regardless of where they live, can discover the joy and power of reading.
Adrienne piloted the Book Trust program with 170 students in Larimer County, Colorado, under the auspices of the Serimus Foundation. Book Trust was spun off as its own 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2006. Since then, we’ve served more than 600,000 students.
Want to learn more?
Want to Inspire the Joy and Power of Reading?
Resources for Teachers and Families
Our Team
Stacey Kirkland
Interim President and CEO
National Board
Darin Atteberry
Elevations Credit Union
David Diehl
OneSeven Advisors, LLC
Swati Gokhale
ZS Associates
Dharmendra Sahay
ZS Associates
Regional Boards
Join us at an upcoming event!
Book Trust events are wonderful ways to engage with our work, support our mission and enjoy the company of fellow Book Trust Champions.
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