A book under the tree can become a favorite bedtime story, a connection to a child’s culture, or the beginning of a lifelong love of reading. This holiday season, Madison Reading Project’s Community Book Drive runs November 10 through December 10, 2026, giving our community an opportunity to put that experience into more children’s hands.

Rowan from Madison Reading Project joined DJ Fusion on 93.1 JAMZ’s Fusion in the Afternoons to talk about the annual drive, the importance of family literacy, and how people across Madison can help.

Bringing Books to Families During the Holidays

The Community Book Drive helps Madison Reading Project provide books for holiday gifts and winter break reading. During a concentrated stretch of holiday giving, Rowan says the organization expects to distribute approximately 15,000 books in about two weeks, potentially more.

That effort gives families access to a selection of books so they can choose something that matches their children’s interests. Having that choice helps make each gift personal, whether a child loves a particular cartoon, wants to explore something new, or connects with a character who looks like them.

Books remaining after the holiday season will help restock Madison Reading Project’s Book Center for 2027, supporting its work throughout the year.

Diverse Children’s Books That Inspire Excitement

Madison Reading Project works to provide books that children are excited to open. That includes diverse stories, books in languages families speak at home, current releases, and hardcover editions whenever possible.

Representation matters. Seeing familiar experiences, cultures, and families in a story can help children connect with reading. Discovering different perspectives can also introduce them to a world beyond their own.

As Rowan explained during the interview, “Literacy is a family activity.”

Reading together creates opportunities for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other caregivers to connect with children. A donated book can become part of those shared moments long after the holidays are over.

How to Support the Community Book Drive

There are several ways to support Madison Reading Project’s Community Book Drive:

• Donate new books. Visit the organization’s website for online book selection options and information about participating bookstores.

• Make a financial donation. Let the Madison Reading Project team select books to support its giving efforts.

• Create a fundraising page. Invite friends, family, or coworkers to contribute together.

Book distribution will begin by the end of November. Book donations should be collected by December 10 so the team has them available for its busy schedule of giving events. Financial fundraising continues through the end of the year as book distribution carries on through December.

Help Madison Share the Gift of Reading

Supporting children’s literacy starts with making books accessible, engaging, and available at home. Whether you give a new book, make a donation, or bring others together to help, your contribution supports that mission.

Visit MadisonReadingProject.com and look for Community Book Drive to find donation options, participating bookstores, and ways to get involved.

Let’s help more children across our community unwrap a story of their own this holiday season.