CARE’s Reading in Color initiative works to provide all children with the opportunity to see themselves represented in the books they read!
Fall Family Fun Days
Reading in Color, a CARE Rockbridge Initiative
About Reading in Color
Reading in Color is an initiative of the Community Anti-Racism Effort (CARE) Rockbridge. It works to put books with diverse characters and stories into the hands of local children, so that every child can see themselves and others reflected in what they read. Through book donations to Lexington and Rockbridge County elementary schools and community events like these, Reading in Color helps kids and families discover the joy of reading.
Join Us
Come out for monthly days of reading, books, family fun, and snacks!
Saturday, November 14, 11:00 AM to Noon
Saturday, December 12, 11:00 AM to Noon
Rockbridge Regional Library
138 S. Main St., Lexington, VA 24450
Come read with us at the Rockbridge Regional Library and also enjoy our theme-related activity stations!
November’s Family Fun Theme centers around National Native American History Month!
Find our Reading In Color Book List HERE
You may donate to the Reading in Color initiative HERE
Find our Reading Across America coverage HERE
Our Reading in Color initiative targets raising awareness about diversity in children’s literature. Children should realize the importance of love and acceptance of all ethnicities, cultures, and identities from an early age. This helps them grow into confident, compassionate, and inclusive members of a diverse society.
Characters with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) identities are significantly underrepresented in children’s literature and that can be unintentionally reflected in our classrooms. To address this issue in our local schools, CARE fundraises, purchases, and delivers books by and featuring BIPOC to donate to local schools.
Each year, we compile a list of books and send them to elementary schools in Lexington and Rockbridge County. Teachers have an opportunity to select a new book book from the list for their classroom. We then purchase and deliver books to the schools by the end of the year.
A diverse group of community members and local college students assist in delivering the books to classrooms while serving as special guest readers to introduce students to their new reading material.
Funding for Reading In Color comes from your donations and grants from the Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath, & Alleghany County. You may donate to the Reading in Color Initiative here.
Check out recent events and highlights!
In these three videos, we have Robin LeBlanc preparing Dolma (stuffed grape leaves) for the 04/12/25 RIC & Rockbridge Regional Library event!
“Thank you so much for once again providing our teachers with an opportunity to expand their classroom library with an array of books that truly reflect how accepting our school and community are to every family we serve.”
– Principal Kimberly Troise of Waddell Elementary School
“The wide range of diversity among the books is phenomenal. The teachers will be thrilled to share these books with the students of Central.”
– Principal Robin Parker of Central Elementary School
