Detroit Bookfest Sets Goal of 2,000 Kids’ Books donated during Bookfest, Announces More Kids’ Programming for this Year’s Event

Birdie’s Bookmobile at Detroit Bookfest

The Detroit Festival of Books announced today its partnership with Birdie’s Bookmobile, a Detroit nonprofit that puts books in the hands of young readers. The Eastern Market-based organization, now in its eight year, has set a goal of collecting 2,000 children’s books during the July 20 festival.

Additionally, this year’s event will feature a “Storyteller Area” where a team of volunteers will take turns reading a steady supply of books to kids during the entirety of this year’s festival.

“Bookfest expands its offerings every year,” said Ryan M. Place, the festival’s founder and chairman. “Here are even more reasons kids and their parents can get excited about Bookfest.”

Bookfest and Birdie’s Bookmobile request that attendees in possession of new and gently used children’s books place them in into one of the several bright-color collection bins that will be at multiple locations through this year’s festival.

“Last year, we collected 1,148 books, with minimal publicity,” said Alyce Hartman, founder of Birdie’s Bookmobile. “This year, we are actively promoting book donations at Bookfest and hope that Detroiters with the resources be generous with their donations. Every single donated book will end up in the hands of a young Detroit reader.”

Previous news media coverage of the Detroit Festival of Books

Detroit Free Press, “Ann Arbor Art Fair, Festival of Books and more: 5 things to do in metro Detroit this weekend,” July 18

Outlier Media, “Hoopfest, Bookfest, a Clark Park fest and more Detroit events,” July 18

WWJ-950 A.M. (CBS), “5 things to do this weekend in Metro Detroit: Concert of Colors, Ann Arbor Art Fair, Detroit Book Fest & more,” July 18.

WUOM-91.7 FM (Michigan Public), “Stateside” (jump to 31:00), July 17.

The Detroit News, “Things to do this weekend in Metro Detroit,” July 17

WDIV-TV4 (NBC), “Heart of Detroit: Birdie’s Bookmobile on ‘Live in the D,'” July 12

WJBK-TV2 (Fox), “Detroit Festival of Books Promoting the Joy of Reading,” June 21.

DBusiness, “Detroit Festival of Books to Expand in 2024, and More,” February 20

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