Books in Hands: Building Young Readers, Two Books at a Time 

It started with a simple question. 

“How many books do you have at home?” 

ForKids volunteer Susan Lowe was working with students in the Mighty Scholars program when she began asking about the books they had at home. One child told her, “I have three books.” Another admitted, “If I’m being honest, I don’t have any books at home.” 

The students Susan worked with were reading below grade level. She wanted to help them practice at home—but she also wanted them to experience the excitement of having books they want to read and that belonged to them. 

“I wanted to find a way to get books into the hands of these children,” Susan said. “I wanted to help them build a book collection.” 

Susan began volunteering with ForKids three years ago, when her son left for college. She started as a mentor to a middle school student who is now in high school—and Susan is still her mentor. After retiring two years ago, she became even more involved, volunteering at the front desk and eventually joining Mighty Scholars for language arts days. 

That’s where the idea for Books in Hands began. 

A librarian friend helped Susan get started with a donation of books and a book cart. Susan then brought her idea to Angela Graciani, ForKids Education Chief, who immediately approved the initiative. 

“I am grateful to the education team for supporting me,” Susan said.

Since last spring, Susan has rolled the cart into Mighty Scholars once a month. Each student chooses two books—not to borrow, but to keep. 

And Susan listens carefully to what they want to read. 

When one child asked for Mo Willems books, Susan made sure they were on the cart the next time he visited. He chose two and hugged them tightly. He now has a collection of his own. 

Other students are building The Baby-Sitters Club collections or looking for the next book in a favorite series. They talk with Susan and with one another about what they’re reading and what they hope to find on the cart next month. 

Recently, Books in Hand received a boost from KPMG Family for Literacy (KFFL), which works to combat childhood illiteracy by providing new books and educational resources to children in need. During a visit to ForKids’ Landmark Center, KPMG representatives met Susan and learned about Books in Hands. 

KPMG followed that visit with a generous gift to support the program, giving Susan dedicated funds to purchase the books her Mighty Scholars are asking for. 

It means more books on the cart, more choices for young readers—and more books going home to stay. 

“These kids are reading at home,” Susan said. “They are connecting and having meaningful conversations around literature.” 

For a program that started with one volunteer asking one simple question, Susan calls that “a pretty big win.”