Read Up On The World's First Little Free Library Neighborhood

Slavic Village is serious about turning a page on literacy. Sixty-six percent of Cleveland residents are functionally illiterate. So Slavic Village has become the world’s first Little Free Library Neighborhood as a commitment to hosting literacy programs that develop young readers. “It’s really sparking something within Greater Cleveland as a whole,” says literacy coordinator Mahogani Graves. “It’s engaging kids.” The neighborhood also boosted its number of Little Free Libraries to 15 tiny, colorful take-a-book, leave-a-book boxes. Meet a few readers using these libraries to raise burgeoning bookworms.

JACQUELYN WILLIS

Little Free Library Visited: Fleet and Broadway avenues No. of Visits: Three to four times a month She Took: Chipper the Chipmunk by Luba Brezhnev She Left: A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams Story Core: “I have grandkids, and they love books. It helps their vocabulary. I had them answer the phone. The gentleman on the phone said, ‘I can’t believe their vocabulary. It’s fantastic!’ ”

SHAVONNE WIMBERLY

Little Free Library Visited: Willow School No. of Visits: At least once weekly She Took: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss She Left: The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss Story Core: “For homework, [my kids] have to read every night for 30 minutes. It’s just good to sit down and turn the TV and electronics off, and spend some time reading and talking to help their communication skills.”