📚 Little Free Library Day: Celebrating Literacy, Diversity, and Inclusion Across Michigan

By Naomi V. Dunsen-White, Chairperson, Equity & Inclusion Team SCBWI Michigan Chapter

As the end of the year quickly approaches, we want to look back and share one of our SCBWI Michigan highlights. On September 27th, the Michigan Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI-MI) celebrated the third annual Little Free Library Day — a grassroots initiative I launched three years ago to champion literacy, diversity, and inclusion in our communities. 

This special day is more than a celebration. It’s a call to action. We raise awareness not only about the importance of free access to books for children but also about the critical need for diverse representation in those books. As Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop so eloquently reminds us, children need mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors — stories that reflect their own identities, offer glimpses into others’ lives, and invite them to step into new worlds with empathy and curiosity.

 What We Do

Each year on Little Free Library Day, we invite authors, illustrators, families, educators, and community members to:

• Donate a book featuring characters from underrepresented groups to a local Little Free Library

• Capture the moment with a photo or video

• Share it on social media and tag SCBWI-MI to amplify the message

This year’s celebration was a resounding success. We saw participation from children’s book creators across Michigan and beyond — authors, illustrators, families, and literacy advocates who believe in the power of inclusive storytelling.

 Community Spotlight

A heartfelt thank-you to the Detroit Chapter of the Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., whose members donated books and participated across Wayne and Oakland Counties. Their commitment to literacy and community service added a powerful layer of impact to this year’s celebration, and we are deeply grateful for their support.

 Why It Matters

Books are more than stories — they are tools for identity, empathy, and empowerment. When children see themselves reflected in the pages they read, they feel seen, valued, and inspired. When they encounter stories that celebrate differences, they learn to honor the humanity in others. That's also why it's important that we support authors from underrepresented groups - the world needs to hear their stories.

Little Free Library Day is a joyful reminder that we all have the power to shape a child’s world — one book, one story, one act of kindness at a time.

 Join Us

Whether you’re an author, illustrator, parent, teacher, or book lover, we invite you to be part of this growing movement. Mark your calendar for next year’s celebration (late September), and in the meantime, keep donating diverse books, supporting diverse authors, sharing your stories, and modeling inclusion for the next generation.

Together, we’re building a legacy of literacy, equity, and love — one Little Free Library at a time.