Third Annual Little Free Library Day: A Celebration of Story, Community, and Inclusion

As we step into another vibrant season, the SCBWI-Michigan Equity & Inclusion Team is thrilled to celebrate our Third Annual Little Free Library Day—a grassroots initiative we launched three years ago to champion literacy, diversity, and community engagement across Michigan.

Little Free Library Day is more than an event. It’s a movement! All of us, whether authors, illustrators, educators, families, or book lovers, hold the power to enrich a child’s view of themselves and others through stories. Books are for ALL kids! 

Why Little Free Library Day Matters

Little Free Libraries have long symbolized generosity, curiosity, and community. But our SCBWI-MI celebration adds a critical layer: diverse representation.

As Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop teaches us, children need mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors: stories that reflect their identities, offer glimpses into others’ lives, and invite them to step into new worlds with empathy and imagination.

Little Free Library Day amplifies this truth by encouraging creators and community members to stock local Little Free Libraries with books featuring characters from underrepresented groups. Every donated book becomes a spark—a moment of recognition, empowerment, or discovery for a child who picks it up.

Community Spotlight

Last year’s celebration drew creators from across Michigan and beyond, including a heartfelt contribution from the Detroit Chapter of the Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., whose members donated books throughout Wayne and Oakland Counties. Their commitment to literacy and service added a powerful layer of impact to the day.

We look forward to welcoming even more partners, families, and creators this year as the movement continues to grow.

A Call to Action. An Open Invitation to ALL

Little Free Library Day isn’t just for authors and illustrators. It isn’t just for SCBWI members. It’s for everyone who believes in the power of stories to shape hearts, minds, and communities.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, librarian, student, neighbor, or simply someone who loves books, you are warmly invited to join us. Grab your kids and have fun creating a special moment! Every participant helps expand access to diverse stories, and every book shared becomes a moment of joy, connection, and representation for a child who needs it.

Your donated book can spark belonging. Your kind gesture can spread book love.

Your participation can help ensure all children see themselves in the stories around them.

 

On this special day, September 26^th, we encourage everyone to:

• Donate a diverse book to a Little Free Library near you
• Snap a photo or a quick video of you making your contribution
• On LFL Day, share it on social media and tag us: @littlefreelibrary @SCBWImichigan #readincolor, #diversebooksforkids, #weneeddiversebooks, and #SCBWI
• Spread the message of literacy, diversity, and community far and wide

Together, we can fill Little Free Libraries across Michigan and beyond with stories that celebrate every child’s identity, culture, and imagination.

With love, literacy, and diversity,

Naomi V. Dunsen-White 

Chairperson, Equity & Inclusion Team 

📚 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.