Birth through high school
Rooted Readers
Rooted Readers gives free, new books by diverse authors to Memphis children from birth through high school, so every family can build a home library. We bring the books to the events and schools families already go to.
How we do it
We meet families where they already are.
Recent stops
This summer alone, Rooted Readers gave away about 1,000 new books. The fall added hundreds more.
At Hope City's festival, every child picked three books to take home. At Circles of Success, the books fill a gap: the school doesn't have an operating library.
Read the full story on the blogCheckout log Rooted Readers, 2026
- SummerCommunity events and partnersAcross Memphis and Shelby County~1,000
- OctoberSweet Cheeks Diaper MinistryBooks alongside diapers at the community giveaway235
- FallHope City Community Fall FestivalNorth Memphis, three books per child350
- OngoingCircles of Success Learning AcademySouth Memphis, books to take home and keep
Why new books by diverse authors
A borrowed book goes back. A book of your own stays home, ready to read again whenever a child wants it.
We choose stories that reflect the children we serve, and stories that open up lives different from their own. Every child should get to see themselves in a book.
Families stretching every dollar have to put diapers and groceries first. That's why the books are free, and why we bring them to the places families already go.
Little Free Libraries in Shelby County
Small book boxes where you can take a book, leave a book, and come back for the next one. Four are open to everyone. The one at Circles of Success is for its students and families.
- Grove Hero Park4511 Beacon Hills Drive, Memphis, TN 38127Get directions
- Millington Early Learning Academy3660 Shelby Road, Millington, TN 38053Get directions
- Bethlehem ChurchComing soon8801 Bethuel Road, Millington, TN 38053Get directions
- Raleigh-Egypt Middle School4215 Alice Ann Drive, Memphis, TN 38128Get directions
- Circles of Success Learning AcademyStudents and familiesSouth Memphis. Inside the school, for students and their families.
Our next big dream: a bookmobile
If children can't get to the books, we're going to bring the books to them.
A mobile library would take Rooted Readers to more neighborhoods. Down the road, we want to reach rural communities across the region too.