Book Giveaway
Book Giveaway: Books in Every 2nd Grader's Hands
Every late April, the Bozeman Sunrise Rotary Club steps up to help local students maintain their reading skills over the summer. This year, our annual book giveaway successfully delivered 2,800 English and Spanish books to approximately 1,400 second graders across Gallatin County!
Literacy is one of Rotary International’s core areas of focus. As a Rotarian, it is truly inspiring to see how this program deeply impacts students. And how grateful the teachers are.
The energy in the classrooms completely shifts the moment Rotarians arrive carrying boxes of books. For some of these students, this program provides the very first books they will own. For others, it is a rare opportunity to choose a book they are genuinely excited to read. There also is the great pride on a bilingual student's face when they discover that there also are books in Spanish.
Watching the students gather around the table and scout out the books is exciting. The students carefully review the books, deciding which ones are of interest and strategizing how they can be the first to get the book they have decided is their favorite. After selecting their books, the friendly bargaining begins. Even the most popular titles—like Elk Dog and Owl Head or The Legend of Chocolate Hills—are ultimately shared and exchanged with a wonderful spirit of camaraderie.
Each student leaves the room with two books and sometimes extra books are donated to the library, which is greatly appreciated by the teachers, as well as the students. And students learn about Rotary’s work both in Gallatin Valley and internationally, for example in Kenya and Nepal. A couple of students even repeated “Service Above Self” after hearing about what Rotary does!
A Big Thank You
The Book Give Away is a true collaboration. Our genuine thanks go to:
- Country Bookshelf: For their incredible partnership in selecting popular English and Spanish titles that are always a big hit with the girls and boys.
- The Teachers & School Staff: For welcoming Rotarians into their classrooms.
- The Rotarians who lead and volunteer to make this project work.
Seeing the profound impact on students and the deep gratitude of local educators makes this project an inspiring reminder of why we are Rotarians.
Here is to 21 years of reading, and many more to come!
(June 2026)
Book Giveaway: Spreading the Joy of Reading
Every year, the Bozeman Sunrise Rotary Club brings smiles to second graders across Gallatin County through its beloved Book Giveaway. It’s a true win-win: students get the thrill of choosing two brand-new books to take home and cherish, while Rotarians experience the joy of witnessing their excitement firsthand.
This year, club members visited over 20 elementary schools and connected with more than 1,300 second-grade students—distributing over 2,800 books in total. A wide variety of titles were offered, including a special selection in Spanish, ensuring every child could find something to spark their interest.
Students chose their books based on personal preference, and in some cases, even had to negotiate with classmates over who would take home a particularly popular pick! Local teachers helped suggest the titles, and thanks to generous support from The Country Bookshelf, the books were thoughtfully curated and purchased.
After the event, the Rotary Club was delighted to receive heartfelt letters from the students. Their words of gratitude served as a touching reminder of just how meaningful a book can be to a child.
(June 2025)