BookUp, the National Book Foundation’s flagship educational program, believes reading for pleasure has a direct and substantial impact on young people’s success in school and careers. During after-school and summer programs, BookUp connects middle school students with local authors and runs free reading groups designed to improve participants’ social, emotional, and literacy skills. Young people also interact directly with the local literary community through author visits and field trips to libraries, museums, and bookstores.

Since its start in 2007, BookUp has given away over 35,000 free books, and each year helps hundreds of students expand their home libraries. In addition to books that groups select and read together in a book club–style format, students are given a budget to purchase books of their choosing during shopping trips to local bookstores. The program currently serves students across the country in New York City, Detroit, MI, and Huntsville, TX.

BookUp NYC operates under a DYCD subcontracting model. If your organization would be interested in bringing BookUp to your students, please reach out to Julianna Lee Marino at jleemarino@nationalbook.org for more information.