Little Free Library

We're Bringing Diverse Books to Little Free Libraries Throughout Minnesota – And We Need Your Help!

Little Free Library is a trusted, award-winning nonprofit organization at the center of a global literacy movement. Now we're on a mission to bring diverse books to Little Free Libraries to communities around Minnesota!

Our new Read in Color initiative distributes books that provide perspectives on racism and social justice; amplify BIPOC, LGBTQ, and other marginalized voices; and incorporate experiences from all identities for all readers. 

Everyone deserves to see themselves in the pages of a book. And all of us can benefit from learning about experiences that are different from our own. By reading diverse books, we can increase understanding, empathy, and inclusion.

Can you help us meet our goal of sharing 50,000+ diverse books through the Little Free Library network?

About Read in Color

Equity and inclusion are long-held values at LFL, but following George Floyd’s murder, we vowed to do more to raise awareness. 

Through the Read in Color initiative, we've distributed more than 40,000 diverse books around the country, including Minnesota. We've also placed almost 200 Little Free Libraries full of diverse books in underserved areas, in partnership with local nonprofits. With your help, we can expand those efforts even further!

“We are excited to partner with Little Free Library and Read in Color as we look forward to aligning our mission around literacy. We’ll have community members seeing themselves as protagonists in books, parents reading to their children, and kids practicing reading. It’s a beautiful thing to envision having books that reflect the community they’re in.”  

– Benny Roberts, Urban Ventures VP of Youth Development, Minneapolis 

Read in Color has four key components:  

• Little Free Library installations. We are establishing new Little Free Library book-sharing boxes filled with culturally relevant books in high-need communities, working in tandem with local partners. 
• Free diverse books. Little Free Library stewards in participating cities can apply to receive shipments of diverse books at no cost, purchased from BIPOC-owned independent bookstores whenever possible.
• Read in Color pledge. Everyone can sign a pledge indicating their commitment to read and share diverse books. Participants have the option to showcase their commitment on our Pledge Wall and have access to special Read in Color resources. (More than 6,500 people have signed so far!)
• Recommended reading lists. Our Diverse Books Advisory Group provides a list of multicultural books for children, adolescents, and adults representing Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian American, Muslim, LGBTQ, and other communities.

How You Can Help

Did you know that in children's literature, only 10% of characters are Black, 7% are Asian/Pacific Islander, 5% are Latinx, and a mere 1% are Native American? [Source.] We want to increase representation and empower all readers. With your gift, we can bring diverse books and little libraries to Twin Cities communities where they will make a difference. 

Your donation will have an immediate impact: 

• $25 provides Read in Color launch materials
• $50 provides diverse books
• $100 provides a post for library installation
• $300 provides a Little Free Library kit, ready to be assembled
• $500 provides a complete Read in Color package: a Little Free Library, post, and collection of diverse books!

“When children read inclusive books, seeds are planted in their minds, hearts, and souls—seeds of awareness, self-esteem, and connection. If enough such seeds are sown, they will blossom into a society that is far more just and equitable than we've ever experienced. Reading in Color is not just fancy for our children's entertainment. It is necessary for our collective survival.” 

– Tameka Fryer Brown, author of Brown Baby Lullaby and Read in Color advisor

Join us!

With more than 150,000 Little Free Library book-sharing boxes in urban, suburban, rural, and Native locations around the world, Read in Color will help amplify diverse voices at a grassroots, community level. 

Please donate today!  When we Read in Color and share diverse books, understanding, empathy, and justice can grow.