📚 Did you know that 1 in 3 adults in Harris County is functionally illiterate? And those adults were once kids. This literacy crisis is bigger than test scores.

It's about opportunity, equity, and the ability to thrive in everyday life. When children grow up without books of their own, those gaps follow them into adulthood.

But there's hope. In this episode of ⁨@TheStorytellersShelfPodcast⁩ we sit down with Kayla Hand, Executive Director of the nonprofit Books Between Kids, to talk about how her organization is rewriting the story by putting books directly into children's hands.

We discuss:

✨ The shocking state of literacy in Houston (and what it reveals about the U.S.)

✨ Why book ownership changes everything for a child

✨ How authors, educators, and publishing professionals can step up as active literacy advocates.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, author, or simply someone who believes in the power of books, this episode will inspire you to act.

🏆 Authors & Publishers: Submit your children's book for our Big Bang Notable Book Award! Deadline: October 5th Submit here:

Submit Now!

📖 Ready to help? Books Between Kids' annual holiday book drive is coming! Get involved: https://thestorytellersshelfpodcast.com

☕ Support the show & get exclusive content! Buy us a Ko-fi for behind-the-scenes footage (coming soon for paid members): Buy us Ko-Fi.

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🎧 Subscribe to not miss an episode! Listen, watch, share — and join us in spreading literacy like wildflowers.

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