The 2025 READ USA Book Fairs officially begin on Thursday, March 27 at Arlington Elementary School! Get ready, Little Dolphins – as Arlington Elementary’s Principal Paula Findlay affectionately refers to her students – we are heading your way soon, and we have some fun surprises in store for you!

There are 29 Book Fair days between the first fair and the last fair on Friday, May 9. That means 29 daily opportunities to volunteer and:

• Bring smiles and joy to elementary students – and yourself!
• Earn volunteer or service hours
• Meet fellow community-minded individuals (most of whom also love books!)
• Be fulfilled in knowing that, because of your time and effort, children across Duval County are able to start or build their at-home libraries with books they have specifically chosen to keep

See the school list and schedule of READ USA Book Fairs and sign up to volunteer today!

The READ USA Book Fairs are one of the most fun, engaging, and hands-on volunteer opportunities around, bringing individual volunteers, corporate resource groups, and community club members of all ages back year after year.

New for the 2025 Book Fairs, any adult volunteering at a Duval County Public School (DCPS) is required to register and pass a Level I background check, which is provided for free on the DCPS website. Per DCPS, volunteer applications typically take between 5-10 business days to process, so please plan accordingly.

Once you find the date or school where you want to volunteer, click on “Sign Up” next to the morning (7:30am to 12pm), afternoon (11am to 3:30pm), or all day (7:30am to 3:30pm) shift you prefer. Once you have signed up, you will be directed to register on the DCPS website if you have not already registered with DCPS. Vendors/contractors with a current badge and anyone who has already registered as a volunteer this school year do not have to register again!

We look forward to seeing you at the Book Fairs in a few weeks!

More Than Books at the Jacksonville Public Library

From a children’s character parade to sing alongs to meet-and-greets with popular book characters, it’s almost as if books came alive this past Saturday!

Celebrate Reading Week came to a close on Saturday with Family Reading Day at the Jacksonville Public Library downtown. The week itself saw many activities happening at libraries and public schools across Duval County, and READ USA was proud to do our part!

To kick off the week, our Senior Director of the Michael Ward & Jennifer Glock Literacy Institute Judy Howard, M.Ed. hosted a literacy workshop for parents at Charles Webb Wesconnett Regional Library (you can read more about that here).

READ USA also created a curriculum for students in K-5^th grades using the book The Word Collector, a popular book that follows character Jerome as he “discovers the magic of words around him.” READ USA aftercare programs at our Literacy Tutoring sites used the curriculum with students in between tutoring sessions, and fellow after-school providers including Communities in Schools and Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Florida all followed suit on Wednesday last week. In total, nearly 100 copies of The Word Collector made their way into schools last week – and in READ USA aftercare programs alone, more than 210 students participated in the interactive lesson!

All of the fun culminated into Family Reading Day, where literacy and education partners from across all sectors – public, private, and nonprofit – gave information, free books, and free activities to students who attended. But the fun didn’t stop at freebies (even though they are always popular):

• Mayor Deegan’s River City Readers’ Bookmobile was parked in front of the library – parents and students got the chance to check it out in-person and pick out free books!
• Curious George and Biscuit, the Little Yellow Puppy were there and got to high-five and take pictures with so many kiddos, who of course loved it.
• And speaking of characters, many children came dressed as their favorite children’s book character – and let’s just say that some of them might’ve given Curious George a run for his money!

The day also featured story times, a sing along with Shana Banana, Junior Lit Chats, and so much more.

Finally, the four winners of the Celebrate Reading Week Book Review Writing Contest were announced, and each received a $100 cash prize. Congratulations to:

• Camryn, K-2^ndgroup winner, reviewed Ladybug Girl at the Beach by Davis Soman and Jacky Davis 
• Cami, 3^rd-5^th group winner, reviewed The BFG by Roald Dahl 
• Caroline, 6^th-8^th group winner, reviewed All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown  
• Jaeden, 9^th-12^thgroup winner, reviewed Dragon Ball Z: Volume 17 by Akira Toriyama   

Team READ USA had a fantastic time last week and we were grateful to join alongside long-term partners of ours to help make it a success. Thank you to the Jacksonville Public Library, the City of Jacksonville, Mayor Deegan’s River City Readers, Kids Hope Alliance, Early Learning Coalition of Duval, Read Jax, and the Library Foundation of Jacksonville for coming together for another successful Celebrate Reading Week!

What’s a Book without a Bookmark!?

Unless you are one of those speed-readers who can zip through a book in one sitting, every book needs a bookmark, right?!

Well, thanks to the wonderful employees of Ally Financial, Inc., which has offices in Jacksonville and across the United States, READ USA now has a small stockpile of handmade bookmarks to give away at upcoming events!

Ally Financial employees came together in-person and virtually during the past few months for group volunteer activities where they made and designed bookmarks. The creativity and artistry were impressive and **chef’s kiss**, and READ USA was the lucky recipient of this generous effort! We are so grateful that the Ally Financial team chose READ USA to receive them!

THANK YOU to Ally Financial and your fabulous team members! We can’t wait to surprise folks across the community with these wonderful handmade creations!

Children’s Book: Anne and Her Tower of Giraffes: The Adventurous Life of the First Giraffologist by Karlin Gray

Illustrated by Aparna Varma

Have you ever heard of a giraffologist? Meet Dr. Anne Innis Dagg, a pioneering scientist whose fascination with giraffes led her on an extraordinary journey – one that defied expectations and changed the way we study these gentle giants.

In Anne and Her Tower of Giraffes, Karlin Gray brings Anne’s inspiring story to life with engaging storytelling, while Aparna Varma’s vibrant illustrations capture the beauty of Anne’s adventures. From a young girl who was captivated by nature to a determined woman who dared to travel alone to Africa in the 1950s – at a time when few women pursued field research – Anne’s determination and love for giraffes helped her achieve groundbreaking discoveries that continue to influence wildlife science today.

But Anne’s journey wasn’t easy. Faced with obstacles and a scientific community reluctant to accept her work, she persevered with unwavering dedication. Her story is a testament to resilience, passion, and the power of curiosity.

This inspiring picture book is perfect for young readers who love animals, adventure, and stories about trailblazing science. With themes of perseverance, exploration, and discovery, Anne and Her Tower of Giraffes encourages children to follow their dreams, no matter the challenges, and reminds us all of the importance of protecting the natural world.

Submitted by Dr. Robert Kelly, Jr., READ USA President and Chief Executive Officer