Collect Children's Books

Memphis Literacy Council needs books for young children—infants to six years old—that are new or gently used. We give these books to parents after they receive training about the importance of reading to their children and assisting with their childís learning. Families can begin building their own home libraries with the books we distribute in order to promote learning at home.

The best books for young children are sturdy board books that have colorful pictures and a small amount of text (a few sentences per page).  The most desirable types of books for children six and under are:

• Cardboard and plastic books with pages that do not tear easily and can be wiped clean
• Sensory books with textures
• Easy readers with predictable stories (Up to level 2 readers), like "Scholastic Just for You" readers
• Nursery rhymes
• Category books- books with numbers, shapes, animals, etc.
• Stories that rhyme, like Dr. Seuss books
• Books with repetition, like Eric Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?
• Books with familiar characters, such as:  Sesame Street, Blue’s Clues, Clifford, etc.
• Multicultural books, such as:  Abuela, Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters:  An African Tale, Anansi tales, Dora the Explorer, etc.
• Bilingual books with English and Spanish text
• Books featuring African American characters, such as:  Amazing Grace, Jamaica Tag-Along, Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon, Something Beautiful, Goin’ Someplace Special, Salt in his Shoes, the Joshua series, books by Ezra Jack Keats, etc.
• Books that are not needed include: coloring books, workbooks, comic books, joke books, textbooks, magazines, and damaged books .