You Belong Book Project
A quality education begins with reading. When children are able to read to learn, they imagine more richly, develop a stronger vocabulary, and engage in critical thinking. For United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, encouraging early literacy is one way we help set kids up for future success.
In February 2023, we kicked off a new initiative — the You Belong Book Project, a year-long celebration of cultural heritage and identity through children’s books. Each week, community members stopped by to share a story they love with our audience. The recordings are archived on United Way’s YouTube channel, creating a rich and diverse library of early childhood readings. Please use the quick menu below to find book lists, recordings, and more.
Readings
To celebrate MLK Day, we were joined by our own Education Director, JoAnna Rozier-Johnson, who read ‘The Colors of Us’ By Karen Katz.
The full You Belong Book Project library of nearly 50 storytimes can be accessed at any time below.
Inclusive Book Lists
Below please find links to 11 different book lists for each of the You Belong Months. Please use the links below to find book lists each month.
- February: Black History
- March: Women’s History
- April: Arab-American Heritage
- May: Asian-American Pacific Islander
- June: Pride
- July: Disability Pride Month
- August: Get School Ready
- September: Hispanic Heritage Month
- October: Mental Health Awareness
- November: Native Heritage Month
- December: Holidays Around The World