Books and Balloons in New Center Park

RX for Reading Detroit was thrilled to be part of an end-of-summer celebration of reading at New Center Park in Detroit.  Storytime panorama.

Organized by one of our community partners, Detroit Little Libraries, the event included a public build of Little Free Libraries and a special recognition of Detroit as the fastest growing community of Little Free Libraries in the country.  The award was presented to Aliyah Sabree, the Mayor’s Liason to City Council, by Todd Bol, founder of the international Little Free Library movement.

Aliyah Sabree of the Mayor's Office, Todd Bol or Little Free Libraries, and Kim Kozlowski of Detroit Little Libraries.

Aliyah Sabree of the Mayor’s Office, Todd Bol of Little Free Libraries, and Kim Kozlowski of Detroit Little Libraries.

Ms. Aliyah Sabree, the Mayor's Liason to the City Council, accepts the award on behalf of the city.

Ms. Aliyah Sabree, the Mayor’s Liason to the City Council, accepts the award on behalf of the city.

RX for Reading invited two local preschools to be part of the story hour festivities, which featured Paul Murphy, head speech writer for GM.  Paul read the wonderful book “Silly Sally Goes to the Zoo,” written by his late wife Sally Laux Murphy.  The book follows Sally, a young girl in a wheelchair, as she meets all the animals–from A to Z–at a crazy, mixed up zoo.  The kids loved Sally and her animal adventures.

Paul Murphy reads "Silly Sally Goes to the Zoo."

Paul Murphy reads “Silly Sally Goes to the Zoo.”

RX for Reading Director Mary-Catherine Harrison chats with some of the kids.

RX for Reading Director Mary-Catherine Harrison chats with some of the kids.

All of the children who attended the event chose a new book to take home from RX for Reading, and each of the preschools received a collection of books for their classroom.

RX for Reading volunteer and UDM undergraduate Renesha Smoot Grafton helps kids pick out their books.

RX for Reading volunteer and UDM undergraduate Renesha Smoot Grafton helping kids pick out their books.

Doc McStuffins!

Another happy reader–with Doc McStuffins!

RX for Reading and Detroit Little Free Libraries

One of our goals at RX for Reading Detroit is to help grow a culture of reading. 

That goal is perfectly aligned with the Little Free Libraryinternational Little Free Library movement, which aims to “plant” tiny libraries in public spaces across the globe–in parks, on streetcorners, by schools and bus stops.

Detroit Little LibrariesDetroit Little Libraries is working to make our city the Little Free Library Capital of the World.  Their ambitious goal: plant 313 of these bird houses for books in Detroit.

Our own RX for Reading Little Free Library on McNichols and Oak Street has already distributed over 500 children’s books to kids in our community.

We were thrilled to share the love with another Little Free Library at the Detroit Loves You Guest Home in the Virginia Park neighborhood.  Proprietor Nathan Andren picked up 300 books from RX for Reading to help keep this fabulous Little Free Library on Hazelwood Street stocked with great picks for children and teens.  Thanks, Nathan, for helping bring books to the heart of the city!

The newly stocked library at Detroit Loves You Guest Home.

The newly stocked library at the Detroit Loves You Guest Home.

From Nathan Andren, proprietor of the Detroit Loves you Guest Home:

Detroit Loves You Guest Home, Where Your Visit Helps Uplift and Transform Detroit.  Established in 2010, DLY was the first of over 400 Airbnbs that are now operating in Detroit. Our mission is to facilitate guests’ meaningful experiences with Detroit and Detroiters, while their stays benefit the Virginia Park neighborhood and city at large. We do this by setting aside 10% of gross revenue for neighborhood organizations like the Hazelwood Block Club, external property improvements such as our community garden, and neighborhood and citywide initiatives like Detroit Little Free Library Capital of the World.