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Rebecca Pedersen perused shelves of nonfiction, early-reader chapter books and classic children’s books as her toddler daughter — short of the second shelf off the ground — wandered deeper into the maze. Pedersen, holding three books, peered around corners watching her pick at titles.
The young girl wasn’t interested in speaking with the press — she wasn’t much into speaking at all, her mother added — she had Disney picture books to track down.
“We haven’t really done much of this kind of stuff with her yet, and she’s in heaven,” Pedersen says. “It’s just a blast checking them all out.”
The Pedersens were at Reading Ready Pittsburgh’s new free bookstore, B is for Book, at 222 E. Eighth Ave., Homestead, for a family open house on Feb. 17. The bookstore opened on Feb. 1.
Mary Denison, the nonprofit’s executive director, saw a free children’s bookstore while visiting family in Milwaukee and wanted to bring the concept to Pittsburgh.
Mark Sepe, Reading Ready’s outreach coordinator, says the accessibility to literature the store offers is one of its best features.
“Literacy and books shouldn’t be behind a paywall,” Sepe says. “If we’re saying … ‘Since you don’t make this much money you don’t get to keep books in your home,’ that’s just not fair.”
In August 2023, Reading Ready facilitated the relaunch of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library — which, from 2019 to 2023, sent a free book to registered Pittsburgh families monthly.
Sepe says B is for Book is a separate entity, but operates under a similar philosophy.
“A lot of research shows that just even having books in the home makes children more comfortable, gives them more opportunities to become literate and acquire early literacy skills,” Sepe says. “The sense of ownership that comes with this is really important. Having a child come in here and express their agency and autonomy to pick up a book and say ‘This is my book’ — I think that’s so important.”
Offering young adult chapter books, superhero graphic novels, photo encyclopedias, classic picture books and more, the bookstore allows young patrons to add three books to their home libraries per trip.
The books are donations from the community or local libraries, Sepe says. Whenever they’re in need, the call goes out and the books come in
“We do have grant money; we’ll buy new books and shelve new books — like special books for events,” Sepe says.
From Sepe’s perspective, books that can be rehomed are everywhere, leaving him wondering why similar stores are not more prevalent across the country.
“Go to any thrift shop and it’s packed to the brim,” Sepe says. “We live in this consumer, throw-away culture, so being able to repurpose these books and benefit the children of our community is so important and it’s doable.”
The slim storefront makes systematic use of its space. Behind a front window facade is a reading nook with miniature furniture, toys and a Dolly Parton cardboard cutout. Bookshelves extend toward the back of the building, the tallest of which houses books of the highest reading level and separates the store from a staff section.
During the open house, Reading Ready opened up the back for crafts and snacks — chicken nuggets and chocolate chip cookies. Amanda Daugherty and her husband watched their three kids color in animal face masks.
The Daugherty’s heard about the event through Raising a Reader — a young-reader book-sharing program hosted by Reading Ready. Daugherty says her family enjoys the cycle of books the program offers and was ready for more.
The trio had no trouble making their way through the stacks and making their selections, Daugherty says. They were set before the event’s first hour was up.
“We’ll definitely be back for more,” Daugherty says. “I love their mission — this is such a great idea.”
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