A local high schooler is giving out free books. Kids love it.
A few months ago, sophomore Dani Smith got in trouble. Why? She was reading a book hidden just under her desk at American Canyon High School.
“I was reading while the teacher was talking,” Smith said guiltily. “I grew up loving books.” Smith loves reading so much, she made her own job giving books to other kids.
Last year, she started a club at school called Magic Bookshelf, which gives out free books to kids from “birth to eighth grade.” It’s a roving free library of sorts. Smith sets up shop at events between food trucks and face-painting booths, laying out a folding table loaded with books organized by level: beginner, intermediate and advanced. It’s one free book per child — but Smith lets two slide if someone asks.
Smith, who is on the wrestling team and vice president for the class of 2028, said that American Canyon High is known to be a rigorous school. It’s common for students to be enrolled in multiple advanced placement and honors classes while taking college courses at nearby Napa Valley College on top of numerous extracurricular activities.
But, she said, a lot of her fellow students don’t read for fun. “Getting into high school, I would ask my friends, ‘What’s your favorite book?’ Some of my friends didn’t have one. So, I want kids to have that growing up.”
The Magic Bookshelf is stocked with all genres: classics, manga comics, science books, the popular fantasy series featuring Percy Jackson. The endeavor takes quite a bit of work. Smith and her mother, Anne Smith, frequent library sales to purchase books at a discounted rate to distribute for free. For each event, they load up bins full of books into Anne’s Chrysler 300. “Dani’s a wrestler, so it works out,” Anne said.
So far, the Magic Bookshelf has been part of five events, starting with Bunny Brunch last April. Most recently, her booth was up at AC’s Night Out in mid-October. And it’s been a hit each time, with more than a thousand books given away, in total. Some people even bring their own bags full of books to donate.
“I want [the Magic Bookshelf] to be at fun events,” Smith said. “I want to make it fun, to associate reading with fun. Not just books in a backpack.”
Smith’s customers are mostly younger, between 3 and 8 years old. But on the Fourth of July, Smith was surprised at how many older kids lined up to check out the book selection. It turns out, high schoolers want in too.
“Some of the people spent hours [at the booth]. Some people left and then came back,” Anne Smith said. Anne is usually reading four books at once, on all different subjects. At the Fourth of July festival, she was shocked by how many people wanted to take books home.
“We probably gave away almost 700 books that day,” she said. “To see all these kids want to read, and want their book, is amazing. Some ask for a second book like they‘re trying to sneak a candy bar.”
Once they fill the requirements, Smith hopes to get nonprofit status for Magic Bookshelf so the work can continue after she’s gone to college, where she plans on majoring in history.
So, what’s Smith reading? “Right now, I’m reading Pride and Prejudice,” she said, smiling like it’s the most fun she’s had.
The Magic Bookshelf will be at Benicia High School’s Trunk or Treat on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5-7 p.m. at 1101 Military W, Benicia.
