Replace our FIND BOOK JOY Bookmobile to Expand Book Joy

My name is Carolyn Polchinski, and I am the Founder of Find Book Joy, a local Fairfield County-based all-volunteer book access endeavor dedicated to providing children in economically disadvantaged communities with the pure joys of book ownership. Learn more about our efforts here:

Find Book Joy

Since our founding in 2022, we have distributed over 4,000 inclusive books to share book joy with hundreds of children in Norwalk and Bridgeport. Our books are donated by generous private donors in Fairfield County who partner with us to provide equitable access to books and choice in book selection to children on our waitlist eager to own their own books. The abundant book joy that we have shared with local families to date has been life changing for young readers. We hope to continue these efforts as our future unfolds.

Our mission is simple: to spark a lifelong love of reading in children and expand equitable access to book joy by removing the cost barrier to book ownership. Find Book Joy is a community-driven effort fueled by a passion for literacy and equity and the aspiration to get as many books into as many children’s hands as possible. Find Book Joy believes that literacy is a civil right that should not be limited by family income restrictions.

However, thousands of children in Fairfield County face restricted access to book ownership due to economic barriers. In fact, many children in Norwalk and Bridgeport have never owned their own books and are consequently reading significantly below grade level. We have met third and fourth graders who are reading on a kindergarten or first grade level. Without books in hand, their access to reading achievement is markedly limited. These restrictions have enduring consequences for their futures. Find Book Joy is hoping to change that.

"The right book at the right time can change a child's life."

Find Book Joy: How You Can Help

A devastating ice storm recently claimed our original Find Book Joy bookmobile, significantly limiting our ability to provide books to Norwalk children. Without a replacement vehicle in the near future, hundreds of children on our Find Book Joy waitlist eager to own their own books may never receive the books they need and deserve.

Your investment will change children’s lives and support their literacy development by providing book joy at no cost with books tailored to their personal interests, topics of fascination, and reading purpose.

In your support of Find Book Joy, you are directly investing in the future of our local children and increasing their access to reading achievement. Access to books empowers young readers to explore their imaginations, increase their reading volume, expand their motivation to read, and improve their reading engagement.

Books open doors to worlds that extend far beyond the here and now. Together, we can ensure that every child, regardless of their economic situation, has the opportunity to experience the magic and promise of book ownership.

Thank you for contributing to our Find Book Joy bookmobile fundraiser and sharing your BOOK JOY with children most in need!

Together, we can provide the opportunity to replace the Find Book Joy bookmobile and bring abundant book joy to young readers!