Made for Me Books

Changing the narrative 
with more diverse books for 
all young readers in Harlem.

"We need diverse books so that someday all good “multicultural” stories can just be called good stories."
- author, Grace Lin

our reach since 2020

 
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ABOUT US

Made for Me Books is a Harlem-based nonprofit, run by volunteers.  We've been working in the community since 2020 and since then have distributed 6,000+ books to 2,500+ young people.

Our mission is to make more culturally diverse books available to ALL of our young readers, with a primary focus on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latino/a, Middle Eastern, et. al) stories and authors.  These are the stories least represented and least available.  

We do this work to help address a few things:
-the lack of diversity in books people own
-afforability (building a home library can be expensive)
-reduce the impact of ongoing books bans 

It is our hope that with more diversity in books, that all young people will see themselves reflected in the American story - while building more understanding across our beautiful differences.
WHAT WE DO

Made for Me Books finds culturally diverse books that illuminate BIPOC stories and authors - and provides them to young people at events around Harlem. 

We purchase and secure NEW books and organize Book Pop-Up events in our community, providing FREE books so that all young people can build diverse home libraries.   
We distribute books with with neighbors at community block parties, at NYCHA family days, at local schools, and with community groups.  We have a van, tents and tables and provide a BOOK FAIR experience - but FREE.

If you'd like to bring our work to your neighborhood or group, please email us at:  info@madeformebooks.com .

We hope that our work encourages more people to seek out books that share the diversity of American experiences and histories among us. And through this work, develop more thoughtful neighbors and stronger community relationships.

community feedback

 

I feel good. It’s nice to see different cultures represented and a lot of different types of stories. Our stories should reflect us.

Student
Age 12, zip code: 10026
 

It’s great. There are a lot of books here that I want to read, and I don’t always feel that.

Student
Age 16, zip code: 10035
 

Yes! It’s very special to see hardcover and up-to-date books being given away here. They are the same titles you get to see at the store, they are new and attractive. You also provide a lot of variety. I feel like I’m at the store.

Khadijah
Age 57, zip code: 10035
 
 

volunteer

We do book fairs all around Harlem.  We need volunteers to:
  • Help at our events (setup tents, tables and books), engage/ talk with young people (when the come to the tables), help people find books if they need.  
  • Manage social media and website
  • Support backend operations (updating inventory, newsletter
  • Many other things!
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host an event

We organize FREE BOOK FAIRS for our community: at block parties, in schools, with community groups and any organization that wants to help get more diverse books where they're needed - for all of our young readers. Made for Me Books can work with you to provide a 2-3 hour BOOK FAIR, where we can provide books, read-alouds - and fun activities to engage with the stories. We primarily work in Harlem, but will consider events in south Bronx and upper Manhattan; if we have the inventory.

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get in touch

  • 110th and Adam Clayton Powell, Harlem, New York, NY