SMART Reading

“Kids come first.” This is a value we strive to live by as a team working to empower children through books. Immigrant kids and families are being targeted here in our community with unlawful and violent arrest, detention, family separation, and deportation. As an organization deeply committed to the wellbeing of all kids, we stand in solidarity with all those in Oregon, Minnesota, and across the country working for peace, justice, and to put an end to inhumane immigration policies and enforcement. If you’re struggling with how to talk with your kids about what’s happening, we’re right there with you! Here are some kids’ books to help children understand this moment, empower them with knowledge, and inspire them to be advocates for a country that puts humanity and kids first always. Books about Immigration: Dreamers by Yumi Morales Some of Us by Rajani LaRocca Mama Shamsi At the Bazar by Mojdeh Hasani and Samira Iravani This is Not My Home by Eugenia Yoh and Vivienne Chang I’m an immigrant too! by Mem Fox Rosa’s Song by Helena Ku Rhee and Pascal Campion Maribel’s Year by Michelle Sterling The Day Saida Arrived by Susana Gomez Redondo A Wall in the Middle of the Book by Jon Agee The Notebook Keeper by Stephen Briseno La Frontera El Viaje con Papa (My Journey with Papa) by Debora Mills, Alfredo Alva, and Claudia Navarro My Two Border Towns by David Bowles Books about Refugees: What is a Refugee? by Elisa Gravel Wherever I go by Mary Wagley Copp The Journey by Francesca Sanna Caged by Kao Kalia Yang The Blue Scarf by Mohamed Danawi Books about the Effects of Deportation or Family Separation: Mango Moon by Diane de Anda Until Someone Listens by Estela Juarez Mama’s Nightingale by Edwidge Danticat Hear My Voice compiled by Warren Binford for Project Amplified I Wish You Knew by Jackie Azua Kramer Something Happened to My Dad by Ann Hazzard and Vivianne Aponte Rivera Books about Protesting: Sometimes People March by Tessa Allen Today is Different by Doua Moua Daddy, There’s a Noise Outside by Kenneth Braswell Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh

If you give a mouse a cookie... he’s probably going to ask for a good book to read with it! 🐭🍪📚 Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! Today, we’re celebrating the ultimate reading snack. If you’ve ever sat by the oven waiting for a fresh batch to bake, you know it takes a lot of patience. Our emerging readers get to practice that exact lesson with the book Cookie Time by @jessie_sima , where the characters have to learn the art of waiting patiently for their delicious treats to finally be ready. It's the sweetest way to learn a big life lesson!

Shout out to our amazing volunteer Readers at Griffin Creek Elementary in Medford! SMART Reading volunteers are each a supportive and encouraging presence in students’ lives. And, as the crew at Griffin Creek show us, in each other’s as well! We are so grateful to have such a positive example of community at our Griffin Creek program!

This February, we opened a new SMART Reading program at Sacramento Elementary in outer Northeast Portland. The program is already thriving with 22 students and 7 new volunteers participating! Huge shout-out to Site Coordinator, Sharon Olson, our volunteer Readers, and the amazing school librarian, Annie, who has committed so much time to helping coordinate and grow this new program!

Thanks to Squrl Curley for organizing the fantastic SMART benefit event at Double Mountain Brewery featuring Tad Robinson Blues Band with special guest Alex Schultz. The music was phenomenal, and Squrl gathered local donations to be auctioned. Thanks also to Kirby Neumann-Rea, longtime SMART advocate and social glue, who donated artwork for the auction and helped with set-up. And many thanks to the SMART volunteers who came out to support!

Thank you to all who participated in Lawyers for Literacy! Our campaign will remain open through the end of May, and we are so grateful for those who can help us reach our stretch goal and put more books in the hands of Oregon kids over the summer!

Walterville Elementary principal, Andy Price, sharing a book with a SMART Reading student last year. The publication, Mckenzie River Reflections, recently featured our SMART program at Walterville in a story about how the school involves the community to improve students’ literacy rates. Walterville principal, Andy Price, credits SMART and our fantastic crew of dedicated volunteers for students’ excellent reading scores and 6% improvement this year.🥳 He tells us that in rural east Lane County, without book shops or a local library, "Every book we can get into the hands of these kids matters."📚🤗 Read the article here: /story/2026/02/12/news/waltervilles-community-spirit-is-fueling-student-reading-success/8967.html

At SMART Reading, we know that behind every great reader is a truly amazing teacher. 🍎 This #TeacherAppreciationWeek, our staff and volunteers want to say thank you for opening your classrooms to us and for everything you do to spark a love of reading in Oregon’s kids!

Find SMART at the Redmond Library this Saturday, May 9th from 1-4pm for the annual Volunteer Expo! Come learn more about our programs and how you can get involved making a difference in kids’ lives! @deschuteslibrary

For today’s young readers, graphic novels aren’t just opening the door to reading—they’re helping kids navigate friendships, emotions, and the real-life moments that shape who they are inside the classroom and beyond. 👦🏿👦🏽👦🏻📚👧🏻👧🏽👧🏿 And as this dynamic format continues to transform how children connect with stories this Back-to-School season, one acclaimed KidLit creator is now capturing the everyday realities of school life with humor, honesty, & heart—meeting kids exactly where they are. 🏫💗📖 We're excited to officially announce that @MrWolfComics will be joining us as one of the co-headlining authors at @PRFromTheHeart 's Building A Culture Of Reading In Your Classroom 2026 (presented in partnership with @SmartReadingOR )—taking place on Saturday, August 8th at @BN_Clackamas . 🤗 Aron will be an integral part of our interactive author panel (beginning at 2PM PT), where he’ll take us behind the scenes of the creative process for the Mr. Wolf’s Class graphic novel series, the role of graphic novels in supporting confidence, comprehension, and a lifelong love of reading, and the power of visual storytelling to reflect real classroom dynamics and student experiences in accessible, relatable ways—plus much more! ✨ For our friends & neighbors in Portland: Bring your burning questions, meet Aron in person, and get your copies of The New Student (the latest installment in the Mr. Wolf’s Class graphic novel series, published by @GraphixBooks / @Scholastic ) and Speechless—Aron’s heralded graphic novel (published by @GraphixBooks /@Scholastic )—personally signed. ✍🏻 The first 50 registered attendees will receive a FREE children’s book, courtesy of @PRFromTheHeart . 🎁 Seats are limited for this immersive day of storytelling, connection, & conversation with leading voices in children’s literature, including Tony Buttino Sr., the @TheEmmys.tv Award–Winning co-creator of @ReadingRainbow and co-author of @CreatingReadingRainbow . Once they’re gone, they’re gone. Secure your spot now via our bio link above. 🎟️ #PRFromTheHeart #BACORIYC26 #BackToSchool #Portland #ReadingRainbow #ChildrensLiteracy #KidLit #LiteracyMatters

Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month! We're excited to celebrate through stories. Today, we have a great one to share with you—Shar Tuiasoa’s "Punky Aloha"—a fun, tropical-colored tale of a Polynesian girl who builds self-confidence through sharing her “aloha” with others. It’s a sweet and inspiring story told by shy/kind/brave Punky Aloha herself, whom kids will love and quickly relate to. @punkyaloha

Our Lawyers for Literacy campaign is coming to a close! We exceeded our initial goal and are on our way to reaching our stretch goal! Check out our leaderboard (link in bio) to see where firms stand! If you are in the legal community, it is not too late to give–one gift makes a difference! #LawyersForLiteracy