Boots on Ground, Books in Hands
- Robin M. Pizzo M.Ed.Director of Education WKAR
- Jun 17
- 3 min read
150,000 books into the tiny, curious, precocious and sometimes reluctant hands of children across mid-Michigan was never a goal Robin Pizzo, director of education at WKAR, considered reaching within six years. Yet, with each event she attended as a public media and PBS KIDS community partner, the numbers exponentially increased as children selected their own brand-new, free book. Now in 2026, she along with WKAR’s education team has reached a tremendous milestone by providing over 150,000 free books to children birth to eighteen.
“As a former English Language Arts teacher, literacy coach and early childhood education administrator, my entire career was built on great literature and the love of reading. I’ve taught hundreds of lessons and offered professional developments across the globe about the power of reading as the key to opening a world of education, aspiration, and academic success.” This belief has remained at the forefront of Pizzo’s career even as reading below proficiency plummets to an all-time low of 72% for Michigan’s fourth graders and the state of Michigan dropping its state-to-state ranking for education from 38 to 43 according to the Annie E. Casey Kids Count Databook.
Research shows there are many issues that impact a child’s academic growth, and Pizzo felt books could help the learning ecosystem with problems such as low reading proficiency, absenteeism, poverty, social well-being and empathy. “The data is dismal and heartbreaking, but I still believe in the power of books to turn those numbers around and increase achievement in literacy and academics.” Reading isn’t the only indicator for a child’s well-being, but it’s a significant one that must be addressed with literature-rich environments in homes, schools, and community spaces.
“Today’s children are global and what better way to learn about the world around them and themselves from within the pages of a book,” Pizzo stated.
Books are a small investment with major returns when championed with intentionality. This is why Pizzo included access to books for kids into WKAR’s education mission after she became education director in 2018. “Every child in every space is welcome to select a brand-new book of choice to keep. For many, this book is the first book they have ever owned. I love when their eyes light up and smiles spread wide across their faces as they realize the book is theirs to keep,” said Pizzo.
On average, WKAR’s education team attends fifty-five events per year. These events include festivals, library pop-ups, school fairs and farmer’s markets. “We try to be wherever children and families are as a partner in learning.” Events can host between thirty to three hundred children. The team works with diligence to ensure each child can select an age and developmentally appropriate book. The books purchased are curated as both fun and captivating. “My goal is to always have a huge selection on the tables to ensure a child can find the perfect book, from humor, biography, history, to beloved characters and nonfiction, we include a wide variety of genres. Our team loves to have ‘boots on the ground’ to place books in the hands of kids across mid-Michigan.”
As WKAR celebrates over 150,000 books distributed this year, the ultimate goal remains the same: to support every child’s limitless potential through the power of reading.
To donate, contact WKAR.org
Comments