Books on Break

Books on Break 2023

FREE Book Fairs in May & June!

About Books on Break

Books on Break was piloted in 2016 as a Read Charlotte initiative in partnership with and operated by Promising Pages. It is part of a continuum of key interventions identified by Read Charlotte to improve third grade reading proficiency in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

Now a Promising Pages program, Books on Break provides FREE pop-up book fairs, at targeted CMS elementary schools, before summer breaks. With our continued focus on diverse books, every PreK through fifth-grade student gets to choose at least one diverse book and four additional books to enjoy over the break. Books on Break invites students to invest in their futures by reading their self-selected books over the summer months.

Harvard research shows that children need access to at least five age and subject appropriate books to spark their reading interest and prevent “brain drain” or “summer slide”. Many children don’t have access to books and go the whole summer without reading. When they come back to school, they’re behind in reading an average of three months. Summer learning losses accumulate each year to impact third-grade reading proficiency. In fact, some research suggests that summer learning loss may account for as much as 80% of the income-based achievement gap. 

Books on Break was created to address summer learning loss by providing access to a critical educational resource – BOOKS! 

Support Books on Break

Want to sponsor a Books on Break school? Email [email protected] for details!

Support Books on Break

Want to sponsor a Books on Break school? Email [email protected] for details!

Our Sponsors

Books on Break 2022 was made possible by the generous financial contributions, book donations, and volunteer support of local foundations, businesses, and nonprofit agencies across the community.

Our Sponsors

Books on Break 2022 was made possible by the generous financial contributions, book donations, and volunteer support of local foundations, businesses, and nonprofit agencies across the community.

Our Sponsors

Books on Break 2022 was made possible by the generous financial contributions, book donations, and volunteer support of local foundations, businesses, and nonprofit agencies across the community.