Brooklyn Book Bodega

You know that feeling of getting lost in a book? Being truly immersed in the author's world? Discovering a new idea and wanting to learn more about it?  Sitting with a small child and reading the same book over and over? Seeing a book on a shelf and feeling transported to your own childhood?

These are the experiences of readers. Research shows that households with 100+ books boost life outcomes for children and adolescents with an impact on educational outcomes, emotional health, and financial attainment. However, not all kids grow up in homes with books. Some kids live in "book deserts" and miss out on the opportunity to become lifelong readers. And, by missing out on reading, they miss out on a whole lot more. They miss out on the joy and comfort that books bring. They miss out on the knowledge that they might otherwise be exposed to. Compared to their peers, they are less school-ready, have less sophisticated vocabulary, and ultimately less opportunity in life. 

But, this is a problem that we can fix.

Brooklyn Book Bodega's mission is to increase the number of 100+ book homes for kids 0-18 in NYC. We believe that all children should be part of a vibrant, literate community and grow up in homes with access to books that they want to read, regardless of financial status.

We provide access to and ownership of books, build community, and create a passion for learning through free events and literacy-based community programming. We bring New Yorkers together through our Big Book Parties, family programming, and book distribution. 

Since December of 2018, Brooklyn Book Bodega has helped more than 240,000 New Yorkers start or add to their home libraries with more than 700,000 books. We collaborate with schools and community organizations – libraries, sports teams, farmers markets, and health services – to make sure that families have access to books regardless of their socio-economic background.

We weave literacy into the everyday lives of New Yorkers. We want to make book access easy and fun so that all of our children experience the joy, comfort, and opportunity that comes with being a reader. However, the demand for our services is increasing and we need your support. Help us develop lifelong readers by making a donation today or starting a fundraising page on our behalf!  

Join us! www.brooklynbookbodega.org or send an email to info@brooklynbookbodega.org.

Who We Are

Brooklyn Book Bodega provides access to and ownership of books, builds community, and creates a passion for learning through free events and literacy-based community programming. The mission is increasing the number of 100+ book homes for kids 0-18 in NYC. Research shows that kids who grow up in homes with 100+ books have better life outcomes than those who do not. We believe that every child should be able to read in the comfort of their own home and should have a variety of books from which to choose.