A Book-Gifting, Reading-Role-Modeling Powerhouse
Book’em began in 1989 as a supplement to the local chapter of Reading is Fundamental (RIF) — the largest children’s literacy nonprofit in the U.S.
Today, while that partnership remains strong, Book’em has evolved to fill a critical need in the Nashville community: a book-gifting powerhouse that gifts free books to children who need them most.
To date, they’ve distributed more than 1 million books to Nashville children through their various programs. But despite their evolution, the staff at Book’em haven’t forgotten their roots. In fact, they not only donate books — they serve as reading role models.
Book’em administers the RIF program at 15 schools in Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). Book’em volunteers partner with a specific teacher and classroom and read to that class five times over the course of the school year. At the end of each reading session, the kids get to pick out a book they can take home.
Having volunteered as a reader multiple times, Judi can attest to the impression those sessions leave on the kids.
“It’s just so amazing, the way their faces light up. They find it hard to believe that you’re just giving them a book that they can keep and read to mom, dad, grandma, whomever. They bring their backpacks and they run — I mean run — to get the books they want,” Judi said.
Since 1990, Book’em has also celebrated and actively participated in Read Me Day, an annual event that sees prominent local figures, celebrities, volunteers, teachers, and others join together at schools to create a fun, read-along-with-me experience for students. They’ve also grown beyond a single day, hosting two to four celebrations at different schools each year.