Our Mission

To improve children’s literacy in kindergarten through the third grade by expanding home libraries using inclusive children’s books.

In 2019, only 46% of third-grade students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County demonstrated college and career readiness on North Carolina's state reading assessment.

Learning disruptions during the pandemic have only deepened these challenges. Yet there is a powerful reason for hope.

A 2026 NWEA study of more than 400,000 students found that half of the kindergarten students who started school behind in reading were able to catch up by third grade when they received effective early support.

This evidence is clear: early literacy intervention works. By investing in children during their earliest years, we can reverse reading deficits before they become lifelong barriers, putting more students on a path to academic success, economic opportunity, and brighter futures for themselves and our community.

At Nana’s Bookshelf®, we believe every child deserves to see themselves reflected in the pages of their books.

Why inclusive books? Children who read highly culturally relevant books demonstrate better reading comprehension, make more personal connections, and hit fewer “frustration barriers”. The result? Children read longer and more frequently.

5,490+ Books Donated (and counting!)

Distributing carefully curated, age-appropriate books, with the help of generous volunteers and donors, promotes equity in learning, while supporting the early literacy skills pivotal for future success. Nana’s Bookshelf® hopes to transform lives, one free book at a time.

Nana’s Bookshelf is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization is pleased to have earned the Gold seal for financial transparency.

Founded by a daughter and her mom in memory of one terrific nana, Nana’s Bookshelf® provides free diverse and inclusive children’s books to preschool children, students in kindergarten through the third grade, as well as to the teachers, literacy organizations and pediatric doctor’s offices who serve them.