You pick up a book you’ve had your on. It goes in your bag and out the door of the CalgaryReads Big Book Sale. Little do you know that just as you are stocking up on summer reading, every book you buy raises funds for initiatives striving to ensure Calgary students can read by Grade 3.

With nearly 16,000 people browsing nearly 200,000 books, we raised a record $584,000 for early childhood literacy this year—and now we’re excited to share our proceed recipient news!

Our steward, Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown, has an Early Childhood Literacy Committee (ECLC) that meets with community partner Kids Literacy Collective to determine how to best distribute each sale’s proceeds.

With a focus on multi-year investments that build momentum across the early literacy ecosystem, together, we’re supporting organizations as they add resources and capacity where it’s needed most.

We’re excited to share the first group of 2026 sale recipients.

Kids Literacy Collective – $250,000

Kids Literacy Collective exists to strengthen the early literacy ecosystem in Calgary. KLC is a network of changemakers intentionally collaborating to ensure children can read by Grade 3, and love it. KLC connects partners, advocates for better conditions, curates trusted resources and practical tools, and shares evidence and stories to support families, educators and organizations rather than direct program delivery

 2026-2027 activities include:

* netWORDing free PD sessions for educators on the science of reading, with renowned early literacy experts sharing insights and resources

* Childhood Unplugged panel featuring Katherine Martinko and other screen time experts

* Quiet kick-off of Calgary’s unofficial 2026 Year of Reading (inspired by the UK) and working nationally to influence Canada’s Year(s) ofReading

* Words in the World campaign to inspire young Calgary families read anything and everything together as they move through their day, coming soon!

Little RedReading House Book Bank - $100,000

Children spend more time reading and see themselves as readers when they have books of their own at home. That means they can start school with literacy skills and other skills that last a lifetime.

The Book Bank—stewarded by the Owerko Centre at the University ofCalgary and located at ShedPoint—collects and distributes gently used children’s books via Little Red Reading House, Little Red Reading Van and partner agencies serving vulnerable families.

Calgary Public Library Foundation – $30,000

We’re helping some of Calgary’s youngest learners become readers through Calgary Public Library programs, including:

*My First Bookshelf (the program that partner's with Dolly's Imagination Library)

*The StoryTruck

*The Kindergarten Book Bag Program

Children’s Picture Book – $15,000

Picture books help children explore not just the worlds that livein their imaginations, but also big feelings, empathy and other perspectives.Big Book Sale’s annual picture book publication now has its author andillustrator selected, and it’s heading to print soon. Stay tuned!

SeedingReading Grants – Announced in late fall  

Remaining funds will support Seeding Reading applications. These are small grants for initiatives that bring books and reading help to children from infancy to age 8. Deadline to apply is Sept. 25. Learn more and apply via Rotary Helps YYC.

We’re so thankful to all of you for donating and buying the books that make this special community book sale and its impact possible as we bring children books and reading help!

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photo credit: Lilyfire Photography

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