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Reading to Kids News
May 7, 2026
 

Dear Friends of Reading to Kids,

This Saturday's "Fantasy, Folklore, & Fairytales" read-aloud books aren't your typical fairy tales!

Stack of the books we are reading aloud this month

Instead of perfect heroes or predictable endings, these books give kids characters who think differently and question the usual fairy tale rules. You'll see that in Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu, a feminist Rapunzel retelling set in China, and in The Fairy Tale Fixers, where the prince is far from charming and Cinderella's dreams are bigger than getting married.

Stack of the books we are reading aloud this month

Older grades will hear exciting fantasy stories, including The Kingdom of Fantasy and Nic Blake and the Remarkables, which brings African American folklore into a modern magical world. We thank Politi Elementary School for selecting our books this month!

Join the quest by signing up today at www.readingtokids.org!

If all of our reader spots are full when you read this, please keep checking back today and tomorrow before 3pm for new spots since we usually have a few cancelations during the 48 hours before a reading club.

(If you have signed up and can't make it after all, please cancel your RSVP online immediately to make room for another volunteer.)

Experienced volunteers only:

Site Coordinators at White Elementary

For those experienced volunteers who are open to it, we can add in your RSVP as a Site Operations Helper to assist our Site Coordinators at any of our schools.

Site Operations Helpers may not get to read, but they do get to participate in creating a fantastic experience for the kids and volunteers that morning!

If you have volunteered with us before and are ready to try the valuable Site Operations Helper role, e-mail us at info@readingtokids.org and let us know!

_______________________________________________

READING TO KIDS AMBASSADORS
WANTED THIS AFTERNOON
OR TOMORROW!

Sample flyers

This afternoon or tomorrow for an hour or two between 7:30am and 2:30pm, we need your help conducting quick classroom walk-throughs and/or passing out flyers to encourage kids to come to this Saturday's reading clubs.

We are especially looking for volunteers available from about 1:15 - 2:45 today or tomorrow. calendar icon

It's an exciting experience and we'll provide everything you need. Please reply to info@readingtokids.org or call the office at (310) 479-7455 if you can be an Ambassador for an hour or two!

_______________________________________________

LEGENDARY BINGO MAY 20TH:
SAVE THE DATE, SHARE OUR FLYER,
& HELP FIND MORE PRIZES!

Drag Queen Bingo!

It's back in just two weeks! On Wednesday, May 20th, join Reading to Kids for Legendary Bingo at Hamburger Mary's in West Hollywood!

The drinks are strong, the drag queen bingo is "R" rated, and seating is limited, so be sure to reserve your seat in advance! All attendees must be 18 years old or older.

Reading to Kids Bingo Night flyer

If you've been before you know it's a blast. If you haven't, click here for a video on their website to see what you've been missing!

Please click the image above for a flyer in .PDF format and forward it to anyone you know who may be interested in going to our Legendary Bingo Night. You can also print out the flyer and post it wherever many people are likely to see it, perhaps with a note that you are going and inviting others to join you.

WHEN:   Wednesday, May 20, 7pm - 8:30pm
WHERE: Hamburger Mary's Restaurant
               8288 Santa Monica Blvd.
               West Hollywood, CA 90046
               (323) 654-3800
               hamburgermarys.com/weho/

Cost:  $20 suggested donation (bring cash, please!), which includes 9 regular bingo games and one grand prize bingo game with fantastic prizes!

Book your reservation through their Yelp page. Parking is available at WeHo City Hall across the street (street and meter parking available)

Legendary Bingo is very popular and there is limited seating available. Plan to arrive before 7:00 p.m. to get a seat. We strongly suggest making a reservation through their Yelp page or hamburgermarys.com/weho/ or (323) 654-3800 to ensure your seat.

All proceeds go to Reading to Kids. For more details, visit our May 20th Bingo event on Facebook and invite your friends!

PLEASE HELP US FIND MORE BINGO PRIZES!

You can also help us gather more prizes for the bingo winners! To help you get started, here is information about Reading to Kids you can share with potential donors (such as where you work or shop), as well as a donation form for them to complete.

Donate to us any of your unused gift cards for bingo! E-mail us at info@readingtokids.org to donate!


Reading to Kids Legendary Bingo fundraiser
_______________________________________________

HELP US FIND GRANTS!

Reading to Kids Program Coordinators receiving a donation check

Did you know Reading to Kids receives about half of our funding from corporate and foundation grants? For example, over the last five years alone seven of our volunteers helped us receive $160,000 in grants from their employers!

Please check to see if your employer offers grants that Reading to Kids can apply to and let us know at info@readingtokids.org! You may help us buy thousands of books for kids! Speaking of which...

_______________________________________________

THANK YOU CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES
CHARITABLE FOUNDATION!

The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation logo

We thank The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation for supporting our program with another generous donation!

We earned this donation through the representation of Capital Group Companies employee and Reading to Kids volunteer and Taskforce Member Jenny Messam – her third grant she has earned for us!

Working together, we are bringing the joy of reading and inspiration of future possibilities to the thousands of kids we read to each year, and to the addition of books to their home and school libraries!

_______________________________________________

Thanks, and please let us know if you can help for this Saturday's reading clubs, and/or join us for Legendary Bingo on May 20th!

Sincerely,

Charlie Orchard, Yancy Rodriguez Coe, & Anna Davies
Reading to Kids
1600 Sawtelle Blvd, Suite 210
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 479-7455
(310) 479-7435 (FAX)
info@readingtokids.org
www.readingtokids.org
www.facebook.com/readingtokids
www.x.com/readingtokids (formerly Twitter)
Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/readingtokids.org
www.instagram.com/readingtokids

Make a donation:
www.readingtokids.org/HowToHelp/HelpDonate.php

MAY 2026
Reading Club RSVPs
School RSVPs Capacity
Alta Loma 26 26
Esperanza 23 24
Gratts 25 25
MacArthur Park 36 37
Magnolia 24 24
Politi 31 31
White 30 30
TOTAL 195 197
MAY Books. . .
Kindergarten book
Kindergarten
First Grade book
First Grade
Second Grade book
Second Grade
Third Grade book
Third Grade
Fourth Grade book
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade book
Fifth Grade

Reading to Kids is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Visit www.readingtokids.org for more information.

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