A Little Free Library Service Learning Project The Heroic Books Task A Little Free Library Service Learning Project

What is a Little Free Library? It’s a “take a book, return a book” gathering place where neighbors share their favorite literature and stories. In its most basic form, a Little Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book to share.  from www.littlefreelibrary.org

Little Free Libraries 

Little Free Libraries in the USA (Click on photo for video link.)

Why do Little Free Libraries matter? Students from disadvantaged backgrounds have a vocabulary of less than half as many words as students from privileged backgrounds. 25-40% of American children have learning difficulties due to problems with reading. Approximately $2 billion per year is spent to help children who repeat grades due to reading problems. 44 million American adults are unable to read a children’s book to a child. More than 20% of adults read at a fifth grade or lower level. Children who do not have basic literacy skills by first grade are 4 times more likely to drop out of school. Study after study links early literacy skills (grades pre-K to 3) to higher academic achievement and future earning power.

The Kemps Landing Little Free Libraries

The Heroic Books Task For several years now, the eighth grade curriculum has included a project called the Heroic Books task. For this task, you will consider which children’s and young adult books best convey heroic values and the characteristics of good leaders and citizens. Each of you will select one book that you feel is a must-read title due to its literary and social merit.  You will then research and learn to write persuasively in order to convince your peers and community that your titles should be included in a Little Free Library, which we will build and fill with books for the Seatack Elementary community. So far, Kemps Landing students have built and stocked three Little Free Libraries for the community. This will be our fourth LFL and a forever legacy from the 2016 Kemps Landing 8th graders!

So start thinking … What books most influenced your development as a reader? What books best teach about heroic values and leadership? ... and sign up online beginning Friday morning!