KC Book Fair supports Lead to Read KC and local literacy efforts

Kansas City adults reclaim the childhood tradition of the school book fair

For decades, the Scholastic Book Fair served as a quintessential American grade school milestone. Students would arrive with pocket money, eager to scour catalogs for the latest series installments or hunt for colorful retractable pens and fun-shaped erasers. On Thursday, Kansas City residents had the chance to revisit that specific brand of nostalgia at the second annual KC Book Fair, held in the auditorium of the old Westport Middle School at Park 39.

The event, organized by Rainy Day Books and the local nonprofit Lead to Read KC, moved beyond a simple trip down memory lane. By incorporating a DJ, local food vendors like Nour’s and Made in KC, and a curated selection of titles spanning all age groups, the organizers aimed to elevate the experience for an adult audience. Rhea LeGrande, executive director of Lead to Read KC, noted that the goal was to spark that familiar childhood excitement while offering the freedom that comes with adulthood: the ability to purchase as many books as one desires.

The economic and social stakes of literacy

While the event provided a venue for community gathering, it also functioned as a strategic effort to support local literacy. Proceeds from ticket sales and the event itself are earmarked for Lead to Read KC, an organization dedicated to improving student literacy rates by connecting children with reading mentors. Additionally, the funds will help Rainy Day Books host a free book fair at the Academy for Integrated Arts, an elementary charter school in Kansas City.

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The necessity of these efforts remains high. Literacy advocates often point to the “summer slide” and the socioeconomic barriers that prevent some students from accessing personal libraries. Lisa Ball, education director at Rainy Day Books, emphasized that the financial barrier to entry is a persistent reality for many families. “We believe that every kid should be able to get a book at a book fair, and experience the magic of a book fair,” Ball said, highlighting the bookstore’s “Books for All” program as a direct response to this inequity.

Bridging the gap between nostalgia and advocacy

Attendees at Thursday’s event often arrived seeking a connection to their own past. Frankie Chilcutt and Vini Stephens, who attended after seeing the fair promoted online, described the atmosphere as being akin to a “candy store.” For Stephens, the change in perspective from childhood to adulthood was stark; where once she might have been distracted by the novelty of toys, she now focuses exclusively on the literature. Chilcutt echoed this sentiment, noting that the books she read as a child were foundational to her development of empathy and her ability to navigate diverse social backgrounds.

KC Book Fair supports Lead to Read KC and local literacy efforts

This generational bridge was evident throughout the auditorium. Marissa Denmon brought her first-grade daughter to the fair specifically because her daughter’s school does not host a similar event. For Denmon, the value of the fair extends far beyond the books themselves. “It really just builds their confidence so that they can articulate themselves well,” Denmon said. “There are two things you do every day for the rest of your life, and that’s reading and math.”

Expanding the impact

The inaugural KC Book Fair drew approximately 300 readers last year, and organizers hope to sustain that momentum to foster a broader culture of reading in the city. For those who did not have a specific child in their life to buy for, the fair provided an opportunity to purchase books for students served by Lead to Read KC. Organizers utilized a tagging system on books that students had specifically requested, allowing attendees to contribute directly to the nonprofit’s mission.

Lead to Read KC hosts new book fair to support reading mentors and young students

The initiative arrives at a time when literacy rates remain a central concern for educators and parents alike. By transforming the traditional school book fair into a community-wide event, Rainy Day Books and Lead to Read KC are attempting to institutionalize a support network that ensures the next generation of Kansas City students has access to the same formative experiences that defined the childhoods of those browsing the tables at the old Westport Middle School.

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