Rise Up & Read brings books to children in camps and shelters along the migrant trail. A story read together calms fear, builds language, and keeps families connected when everything else is uncertain.
Across the Americas and worldwide, children are forced to leave their homes because of violence, poverty, climate disruption, and instability. The journeys that follow are marked by fear and uncertainty, and the chronic stress of displacement - impacting health and wellness.
We bring books to children and families along the migration trail through library clubs, supported libraries, and virtual libraries. We support early literacy as well as strengthen the bond between caregiver and child through creating reading opportunities and shared reading. This is a fundamental way to help children process emotions in the midst of upheaval.
How we work →
"To ease the impact of toxic stress for children on the migration trail by fostering literacy and emotional connection through shared reading."
Stories create vital moments of calm and offer connection, comfort, and a sense of safety when it is needed most.
We meet families where they are — in the encampments, on their phones, and alongside the people they already trust.
We host library clubs weekly where children come to read, tell stories, and have the chance to just be kids.
We create library spaces in migrant centers so children have a space to read.
We host a virtual library which is projected into 21 migrant centers from Colombia to Mexico, allowing access to stories for children all along the migrant trail.
We work with students and volunteers building connections and understanding.
Without stable routines or safe spaces, many children struggle to learn, feel secure, and maintain strong emotional connections with caregivers. A book, read together, offers exactly that — a moment of calm and connection.
— Rise Up & ReadShared reading supports early literacy at exactly the age when it matters most — and builds a bridge to reading in new languages along the way.
A predictable, gentle ritual helps regulate a child's stress response and strengthens the caregiver–child bond in the middle of upheaval.
Rise Up & Read is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 99-2286768). Every gift buys books, builds pop-up libraries, and keeps the digital library free for every family.
Prefer to send a check or give in another way? Email info@rise-up-and-read.org.
Our online library holds stories read aloud in several languages, for families to enjoy together. Reading with your child helps reduce stress, relax, and learn to read.
Graduate students in New Jersey and Mexico City worked across borders to write bilingual books for the children of the encampments — and this week we put them in their hands.
Read the update →Your donation buys books, builds pop-up libraries, and keeps our digital library free for every family on the trail.
Donate →Universities, NGOs, shelters, and volunteers help us reach more children. Email us at info@rise-up-and-read.org and let's talk about how to work together.
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