Little Free Library targets ‘book deserts’ with national expansion with beloved author’s help

A nationwide effort to address limited access to books will bring 100 new Little Free Libraries to communities identified as “book deserts,” with a focus on schools, public spaces and underserved neighborhoods across the United States.

The initiative, launched Tuesday, is led by the Little Free Library nonprofit in partnership with beloved children’s author Dav Pilkey and publisher Scholastic.

The rollout will continue through July, with each installation stocked with children’s books and designed to increase access to reading materials in areas where they are scarce.

Each library will include a curated selection of titles, including copies of Pilkey’s newly released “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga,” which coincides with the program’s launch during National School Library Month.

“Every child deserves access to books,” Pilkey said. “With this initiative, we hope to spark curiosity, imagination, and a lifelong love of reading.”

Organizers said the effort builds on a previous campaign that placed Little Free Libraries in all 50 states, expanding its reach with a targeted approach to communities with fewer literary resources. The structures, designed with Pilkey’s illustrated characters, are intended to attract children and encourage regular engagement with reading.

Little Free Library CEO Daniel Gumnit said the partnership aims to translate the popularity of Pilkey’s work into increased access to books.

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“Together with Dav Pilkey and Scholastic, we’re turning that inspiration into action, placing books directly into communities and inviting kids to discover the joy of reading right outside their doors,” Gumnit said.

In addition to the installations, the organization is hosting a giveaway of 200 copies of “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga” for participants in the United States and Canada, with priority given to schools and libraries.

Little Free Library, a nonprofit founded to expand book access through community-based sharing boxes, operates more than 200,000 registered locations globally. The organization said the new installations are part of its broader effort to address disparities in access to reading materials and promote literacy at the local level.