United Way of Yellowstone County Launches Read in Color in Billings, MT

United Way of Yellowstone County has brought Read in Color to Billings, Montana, joining the 2026 cohort of a national effort that has already reached 31 U.S. cities—from New York and Washington, D.C. to Atlanta and Phoenix—installing more than 250 Little Free Libraries and sharing over 50,000 children’s books celebrating Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and other voices, Little Free Library reported. The local launch took place at a community rally event, where residents stopped by to learn about the initiative and pick up maps to the neighborhood book sharing boxes.

Thirty-One Cities, 250 Libraries, 50,000 Books

The national footprint shows the model is scaling rapidly. Thirty-one cities now host the initiative, more than 250 book sharing boxes are in place, and over 50,000 books have been shared so far, with the organization saying expansion will grow even further this year. For Billings, the launch adds a local node to that network, and residents can learn more and sign the Read in Color pledge through the program.

Caregivers and Teens Line Up for the First Books

The Billings rally drew families, caregivers, and young readers, and the quality of the conversations stood out as much as the turnout. Emily Pratt, Community Impact Coordinator at United Way of Yellowstone County, described families using the maps to plan their first stops among the new book sharing boxes.

United Way of Yellowstone County Launches Read in Color in Billings, MT

“Beyond the number of people, the quality of our interactions was exceptional. Some caregivers and their children began planning out their visits, after taking one of our maps, to where they would go first to visit the new book sharing boxes.”

Pratt also singled out a moment that captured the program’s purpose.

“One of my favorite experiences was when two teenage girls stood near the table and enthusiastically had a conversation about some of the books. It was amazing to see their excitement.” Emily Pratt

Free Books Without Barriers

United Way of Yellowstone County’s mission is to address the needs of Yellowstone County and improve lives by connecting and collaborating for a thriving community, with a vision of a community where every person has the resources to reach their potential. Read in Color fits that mission by putting free, representative books directly into neighborhoods, where families can find them without barriers.

With the 2026 cohort now active in Yellowstone County, the rally marked the moment the national program became a Billings story, one book box and one excited reader at a time.

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