Once Upon a Book Drive

Unfortunately, the 2020 Once Upon a Book Drive has been cancelled due to COVID-19. Safety is our priority, and we felt there was no truly safe way to collect and sort donations for the drive this year. We look forward to resuming the Once Upon a Book Drive in 2021.

Once Upon a Book Drive

June 2019 marked 6 years of our annual Once Upon a Book Drive! To date, more than 31,000 books for Wisconsin children in need have been collected with the help of our participating member Child Care Resource & Referral agencies and Family Resource Centers, community and business partners, and individual donors like you.

Our mission for SFTA’s annual Once Upon a Book Drive is simple: to collect and distribute quality children’s books to child care programs and families in need across Wisconsin. During the drive we accept new or gently used books that contain educational, appropriate content for children from ages 0 to 12.

 

Why Books?

Research shows that early learning and literacy is crucial to a child’s later development. The learning and experiences children have in their earliest years help shape lifelong outcomes. Learn more about the research surrounding early learning and literacy:

Parents should read aloud to infants every day, pediatricians say
Language gap between rich and poor children begins in infancy, Stanford psychologists find

 

Are You a Wisconsin Non-Profit in Need of Books?

Click here to access our Book Recipient Application and criteria to apply for a portion of the books that we collect through the drive. Please note that books are distributed based on need and availability.

 

Our Preferred Book Donation Lists

Please look through these book lists for ideas for quality children’s literature to donate to our book drive. You may donate books not on these lists as long as they meet our requirements for educational, appropriate materials for children ages 0-12. Thank you for your support, and please contact Eva at eva@supportingfamiliestogether.org with questions regarding the requirements for book donations.

‘Faculty Finds’ Children’s Book Lists
Book Nook Books from the Pyramid Model
Newbery Medal, Caldecott Medal Awards
Read on Wisconsin
– Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers
– Grades K-2
– Grades 3-5
The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)
Association for Library Service to Children
Zero to Three: Books About Feelings for Babies and Toddlers
NAEYC Suggestions for Children’s Books
SFTA’s Once Upon a Book Drive Pinterest Board
Don’t Miss Lists from the Wisconsin Library System:Picture Books , Fiction, Non-fiction, & Foreign Language
Selected Literature By and About First Nations Children and Families

 

Are You an Avid Amazon Shopper? 

If so, Amazon will donate a percentage of the price of ALL of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to SFTA, where your money goes to support Wisconsin children and their families. Double your giving by purchasing books to donate to our drive!

 

THANK YOU to Our Once Upon a Book Drive Community Supporters!

A big THANK YOU to all of our community supporters for helping to make the Once Upon a Book Drive a success. You’re making it possible for thousands of children across Wisconsin to have story books of their own which will spark a culture of reading and literary empowerment.