Who We Are

MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS promotes early literacy, especially in limited-resource areas in Tucson and southern Arizona. We provide a full continuum of services that give young children (birth through age 5) the opportunity to fall in love with books and reading. MWFB envisions a community in which all children enter kindergarten with the necessary early literacy skills to be successful in school and throughout life.

The Importance of Early Literacy

Success begins way before a child ever steps foot in a classroom. If we make sure young children experience quality early education and literacy-rich environments, if we ensure they have developmentally appropriate books and adults who read to them every day, they have a better chance of getting to kindergarten ready to learn. When children start kindergarten prepared, they are far more likely to graduate from high school, stay out of trouble with the law, and become productive members of the workforce.

More on the Importance of Early Literacy >>

A Message from Founder and Executive Director Mary Jan Bancroft

Dear Friends,

MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS has been very fortunate over the years to have good friends, wonderful team members, and dedicated Storytime volunteers. Thank you so much for your desire to share your love of books and reading with young children in southern Arizona, many of whom otherwise would not have books of their own or adults in their lives who read aloud to them.

We are now working directly with more than 90 childcare centers and preschools, providing evidence-based early literacy programs that clearly are making a difference in the lives of thousands of children.

But the youngest children in our community continue to face challenges. Did you know that beginning in 2013-2014, third-graders will be retained if they are not reading at grade level? Unfortunately, there are no supportive measures being put into place by the legislature to provide the necessary educational foundation for young children – especially those from low-income families.

So now, more than ever, we need to galvanize our efforts. Together we can continue to make a vital difference in the lives of young children by helping them reach kindergarten with the necessary reading readiness skills to be successful in school and in life.

Gratefully yours,