Is ‘more reading’ on your list for spring?  Or do you just love the sight of a child with their nose in a book? The Calgary Reads Big Book Sale is your chance to donate books in support of early childhood reading—and stock up on every imaginable genre among nearly 200,000+ books.

This beloved community book sale is accepting book donations April 24-May 3 at the Calgary Curling Club and at four Stuff-a-Truck events April 25 & 26. The sale opens its doors to shoppers May 8-17.

At a time when book access and making more time to read for pleasure is top of mind for many Calgarians, this book sale offers books, books and more books, many priced between $2 and $4.

“Books are for reading and sharing and enjoyment—and as part of the reading ecosystem in Calgary, they also help us get kids reading, whichis incredibly important right now,” says Steacy Pinney, co-chair of the RotaryClub of Calgary Downtown Early Childhood Literacy Committee.

The Rotary club stewards the sale and the committee, along with community partner Kids Literacy Collective, distributes book sale proceedsto evidence-based initiatives that help children become thriving readers byGrade 3.

Pinney says it’s estimated about 25 per cent of kindergarteners in Alberta have minimal to emerging literacy skills, and only a quarter of children are reading at grade level by the end of Grade 3. (sources)

“Our children are facing a reading crisis, but it’s a very solvable problem. Fortunately, we have some amazing partners getting children the books and reading help they need—and an amazing community of supporters donating books to the sale.”

In 2025, nearly 200,000 donated books made it to the sale’s tables, raising $544,000 for initiatives that bring books and reading help to children who need it most. Recipients included Book Bank, run by University ofCalgary Owerko Centre, which gave 36,075 books to children last year; and Calgary Public Library Foundation, which gave books and more to children via the Library’s My First Bookshelf, The Story Truck and The Kindergarten Book BagProgram.

As book bans and the wellbeing benefits of reading make headlines, many book-lovers simply appreciate the wallet-friendly and widespread access to a plethora of books.

“Our book sale is this magical place where book-lovers come in droves to treasure hunt for books that can be hard to find elsewhere, and they’re all such a great price,” says Gail Boehm, co-chair, Calgary Reads BigBook Sale committee.

Nearly 200 tables are organized alphabetically (fiction), by topic (non-fiction) and by age (children’s books) for breezy hunting acrosscategories, from traditional sections like Canadian fiction and travel to popular new categories like banned books, graphic novels, gaming and true crime. The sale is not only on the main floor but also up in the lobby, where collectibles, artbooks, politics and history can be found. In the centre aisle, there are tablesof books by Calgary-based writers, volunteer picks and banned books.

Of course, having a total of more than 200,000+ books to browse starts with the generosity of those donating pre-loved books so proceedscan help Calgary children become thriving readers.

Book donation events begin Friday, April 24 at CalgaryCurling Club, 720 3 Street NW.

All you have to do is pull up, pop your trunk, and let volunteers unload your books. Accepted books can be donated 9am-5pm on April 24, and from April 25-May 3, 9am-8pm weekdays and 9am-5pm weekends. Four community Stuff-a-Truck events are also being held.

How to donate books to Calgary Reads Big Book Sale:

·     April 24-May 3 at Calgary Curling Club (720 3Street NE) view hours

·     Sat. April 25 12- 3 at Fish Creek Library*Parking Lot* (11161 Bonaventure Drive SE)

·     Sat. April 25 10-1 at Melcor YMCA (8100 JohnLaurie Blvd NW, upper lot)

·     Sun. April 26 10-1 at Rundle College (7375 -17th Ave SW)

·     Sun. April 26 11:30-2:30 pm at Seton YMCA (4995Market Street SE, lower SE lot)

Jayman BUILT, now in its fourth year of sponsoring the sale, encourages Calgarians to be a part of the impact—giving books and discoveringbooks to take home in support of early literacy.

“Reading is the foundation of all learning. We recognize the vital role reading and improved literacy skills have on a child’s future. From an early age providing children with books and the opportunity to read has a lifelong impact on their success," says JayWestman, Chairman and CEO of Jayman BUILT. “We are proud to support the Calgary Reads Book Sale in providing Calgarians with more opportunities to read.”

Once you’ve made space on your bookshelf, it’s time to get ready for the biggest Calgary book sale around—and one of the biggest book salesin Canada.

How to buy books at Calgary Reads Big Book Sale:

·     May 8, 9, 10, ($3-$5 event fee at checkout); attendance by appointment only

·     May 11-14, no appointment needed, ($3 event fee at checkout)

·     May 15-16, Buy One Get One (BOGO) ($3 event fee at checkout)

·     May 17, Fill-a-box for $20 ($3 event fee at checkout)

For more details, visit www.bigbooksale.ca

ABOUT CALGARY READS BIGBOOK SALE

Now in its 22^ndyear, the Calgary Reads Big Book Sale allows thousands of Calgarians to discover pre-loved books among every genre and help local children become joyful, confident readers. In 2025, more than 200,000 books were donated and we raised $544,000 to help bring books and reading help to Calgary children who need it most. www.bigbooksale.ca

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