Through our nonprofit Children’s Book Recycling Center and it’s Readers & Writers Rock! program, Children’s Book World is committed to reaching out to children across our diverse city, not just those of our core customers who can afford to buy new books for the children in their life. The goal of these programs is to address the challenge of getting books into the hands and homes of low-income children throughout the county of Los Angeles.

The Children’s Book Recycling Center, a nonprofit community service project of Children's Book World, is continuing to collect new and gently used children’s books that are given to literacy programs and nonprofit organizations that work with needy children in Southern California, infants through high school. We’re sorry, but we’re not able to accept any text books, old library books, adult books, videos or games; also, all books should be in very good condition. Please bring in your gently used or new children’s books. Doing this greatly aids the recipients and will help children learn the value and rewards of sharing with others.

Organizations that have benefited from the Children’s Book Recycling Center include: St. Elmo Village, Camino Nuevo School, Aprendamos/Let’s Learn, Don King APA Shelter, Healthy Start Family Clinic, South Central LAMP, and many more.

If you work with children through a nonprofit organization or tutoring program or teach in a low-income school and would like to receive some of these “recycled” books, please send a written request (no phone calls please) or email, cbwrecycle@gmail.com, to Children’s Book Recycling Center Managing Director, Children’s Book World, 10580 1/2 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064. Please include a brief description of your program, the number of children involved, and the age range serviced.

Thank you to the Service Learning Committee of Westwood Charter Student Council, and coordinator Lindsay Thom, for the large collection of quality gently used children’s books donated to the Children’s Book Recycling Center! Your efforts are much appreciated!

Readers & Writers Rock!

In 2014, thanks to an independent bookstore grant given by author James Patterson to bookstores engaged in innovative ways to get people reading, Children’s Book World, through our nonprofit Children’s Book Recycling Center, launched Readers & Writers Rock! The program has the mission of bringing authors to low-income schools and bringing underserved children to Children’s Book World author events. Each of the children attending will receive an autographed copy of one of the visiting author’s books. We want to put books into the hands of children and provide them with author visits to inspire them and generate a love of reading. For more information visit: www.childrensbookworld.com/readers-and-writers-rock.

Programs From Our Friends For Getting Books To Kids and Teens:

The Book Truck

Lisa Libraries

The Lisa Libraries donates new children’s books and small libraries to organizations that work with kids in poor and under-served areas. Founded in 1990, the Lisa Libraries was started by author Ann M. Martin and friends to honor and memorialize children’s book editor Lisa Novak. Some of the libraries established have been at day-care centers and after-school programs. The Lisa Libraries supplements under-filled shelves as well as provides books to many children who may never have owned a book before. If you would like to request books for your program or make a donation, please go to their website, www.lisalibraries.org or write: Lisa Libraries, 77 Cornell Street, Kingston, NY 12401.

First Book

First Book is a wonderful organization that provides new books to children in preschools and after-school programs, mentoring and tutoring programs, shelters and day care centers, and beyond. To be eligible to apply for the books, an organization must serve children where at least 50% are from low-income households or be a Title I or Title I eligible school. For grant applications, please visit www.firstbook.org.