“Children are made readers in the laps of their parents.” -author and publisher Emilie Buchwald
Did you know that in East Tennessee, 61% of children experiencing poverty have NO books in their homes?
Did you know children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds start kindergarten 12-14 months behind their peers?
Did you know a child with access to 25 books at home will, on average, complete two more years of school?
You may be asking why I am sharing these statistics with The Book Whisperer readers.
In 2023, I joined the Friends of Literacy /FOL Board of Directors because their mission speaks to my heart and my values. The small but mighty staff of three and volunteers work to ensure that all children in Knox County and the surrounding communities have the early literacy skills they need to be kindergarten-ready and that all parents are empowered to be their child’s first teacher.
One of the programs we are most proud of is Literacy To Go, In 2025, FOL reached over 13,000 children at 10 healthcare clinics for underinsured/uninsured clients and 12 nonprofits in Knox and the surrounding eight counties.
While the books are the vessel, empowering the adults in the child’s life is the goal. Each child chooses a book, and their caregiver is provided with one-on-one guidance and learning materials. This collaborative model meets people where they are, bringing our resources to them at no cost, and alleviating as many barriers as possible.
When our executive director, Wendy Wand, asked the staff members to name an impossible dream for the non-profit, they said a free community library, and on September 17th at 4pm, we are cutting a ribbon for the Little Friends Story Garden Bookshop, East Tennessee’s only free bookshop. Readers, this is your official invitation to join us in the celebration at the FOL office in the Burlington neighborhood of East Knoxville at Macedonia United Methodist Church.
Come celebrate the rich storytelling history of East Tennessee at the Friends of Literacy’s annual fundraiser, Feast & Fables, on September 24th from 6- 9 p.m. at the Knox Botanical Garden Dogwood Center. Learn more about FOL and be entertained by Rhea Carmon, Jamie Satterfield, I.N.K., and Rich Mountain Celtic. Tickets are available here Feast & Fables. I would love to see you there!
What I am Reading: The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson
What I am Listening to: The Paper Girl by Beth Macy
What I am Watching: Lioness Season 3
Look for books at Knox County Online Library or your local independent bookstore each week.
Linda Sullivan is an avid reader and wants to inspire you to become one, too. For more recommendations or to talk books, reach out to her at thebookwhisperertn@gmail.com. She can also be found @thebookwhisperertn on Instagram.
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