6,000 Free Books, 650 Families: How Apex for Youth’s Annual Book Fair Is Closing the Literacy Gap in NYC

Most of us take for granted that there were books in our childhood home. A shelf, a stack by the bed, something to grab on a rainy afternoon. For many of the youth we serve, that’s not the reality they grew up in.

It started with a moment of honesty. Fifth graders in our After School Program at PS184 watched their classmates shop the Scholastic Book Fair and spoke up that it wasn’t fair that they couldn’t participate. Their teacher brought the concern to us, and we knew we had to act. We began collecting books from the community, and our own Book Fair was born.

We wanted to solve something real: That Apex families who couldn’t afford books were being left out not just of reading, but of the kind of experiences and opportunities that other kids access without a second thought.

In December 2022, we hosted our first Book Fair. We had 3 volunteers, 1,500 books, and 160 attendees. There were no activities, no author appearances, just books and the belief that every young person deserves access to stories that speak to them.

This past May, we hosted our 5th. We distributed 6,000 free books to more than 650 youth, families, and community partners.

We keep doing it because the community keeps showing us why it matters. Families who were there at the very first Book Fair came back this year. Students who’ve aged out of our programs still showed up. We keep doing it because we keep seeing what happens when youth have access to stories that belong to them.

Why we do it: Access and equity

In communities where 61% of low-income families have no books at home, access isn’t a given; it’s a gap (Reading Literacy in the United States, 1996).

This year, every youth left with at least 12 books they chose themselves — spanning all grade levels from elementary through young adult. Buying 12 books would cost a family around $240. For many of our families, that’s simply not an option. The book fair removes that barrier entirely.

When a student walks out with a bag full of books they chose themselves, something shifts. They’re not just taking home reading material, they’re building a home library, a sense of ownership, and a relationship with reading that belongs to them. 

Access like this builds confidence, strengthens identity, and turns reading into something joyful.

We also heard it directly from the families themselves:

“We love the annual Apex book fair! My children can pick any books they like. Between my two kids we got 20+ books. We are all set for the summer. Thank you Apex!”

Why we do it: Representation and belonging

This year’s Book Fair was intentionally held during AANHPI Heritage Month. Over 1,000 books by AANHPI authors were available for students to choose from, and we were honored to welcome two incredible authors: Sheetal Sheth and high school author Maddy Lee, whose presence reminded our students that storytellers look like them.

This representation matters deeply to us. When students see AAPI stories on the shelf and AAPI authors in the room, reading becomes something that reflects who they are, where they come from, and what they’re curious about.

A community that keeps coming back

One of the most meaningful things about Book Fair #5 wasn’t just the new faces, it was the familiar ones. 

Students who are no longer part of Apex programs came back. Families who were there at the very beginning, the ones who inspired us to start this in the first place, showed up again. Corporate volunteers returned for the second, third, and fourth times because they genuinely love being part of it. 

The Book Fair has become something bigger than any single event. It’s a tradition. It’s proof that when you build something rooted in a community, the community shows up.

What’s Next

From Book Fair #1 to Book Fair #5, we’ve watched this event grow from a small afternoon into a true community celebration. 

We’re already thinking about what Book Fair #6 will look like, how to reach more families, welcome more partners, and put even more books into the hands of young people who deserve them.

We’re grateful to every person who helps us get there. Thank you to our corporate partners and the broader community for your support so that we could offer 6,000+ books.That generosity is what makes the scale of this event possible and the impact real.

Because when a youth picks up a book and sees themselves in its pages, that moment matters. That’s why we’ll keep providing book fairs for our youth and families.

If you would like to read along with our authors from the book fair, our first read aloud is live on youtube with Sheetal Sheth reading Anjali Can!