Encouraging children to read can often times be a challenge. However, Birdie’s Bookmobile is working towards improving kids’ love for reading. Award winning journalist Mitch Albom showed how Birdie’s Bookmobile makes a different in the heart of Detroit. Alyce Hartman, Owner of Birdie’s Bookmobile, stopped by “Live in the D” to talk about what her company does for the community.
Hartman initially had a bus that delivered new and gently used books to children in Metro Detroit. Tragedy struck for her as that bus was lost to a fire. Her misfortune continued when she replaced the bus which was later stolen.
Hartman explained how the silver lining in all of this is that after she lost both busses, she resorted to mini book fairs. Holding these book fairs doubled the amount of they gave to children. Currently, she partners with schools and nonprofit organizations to host book fairs once a month. The children’s books kids select get to keep them for free.
Birdie’s Bookmobile is at Reading and Rythm on the Riverfront on Thursdays. When kids come down, they can win a basket full of books and different prizes although all of the children that attend walk away with free books.
Next weekend Birdie’s Bookmobile will be at Eastern Market for Bookfest. You can bring your gently used books and donate them as there will be a book drive.
“We’ve given away over 57,000 books since our launch in June 2022,” said Hartman. “We have 30 ,000 books set aside for DPSCD schools this fall,” Hartman continued.
If you have a bus, want to help purchase a bus for Birdie’s Bookmobile, or just contact Hartman, you can email Hartman or go to Birdie’s Bookmobile’s website.
To see the full interview with Hartman, click the video player above.