The Metro: Birdie’s Bookmobile to collect books for kids at Eastern Market this Saturday

Birdie’s Bookmobile is a local nonprofit working to put books in kids’ hands no matter where they are. As part of National Donate a Book Day this weekend, Birdie’s will be parked at Eastern Market and invites the public to bring books to donate. 

Donated books will be shared with children and families via school visits, free book fairs and community events. 

Alyce Hartman is the founder and executive director of Birdie’s Bookmobile and a K-4 educator at Detroit Prep. She joined The Metro on Friday to discuss the bookmobile and what people can expect this weekend at Eastern Market.

“The bookmobile was actually birthed from a dream that I had 15 years ago,” Hartman said. “And in 2018, I was sitting in a meeting and somebody said, ‘Hey, so and so’s got a bus for sale in their front yard,’ and I’m like, ‘It’s mine. I’m going to get this bus.’”

Birdie’s Bookmobile purchases books to distribute that feature diverse characters, Hartman said. They also accept gently used books year-round. 

“So these books have Black and brown characters. They highlight different cultures and traditions, they might have neurodivergent and disabled characters,” Hartman said. “So we’re intentional about purchasing books like that.”

Birdie’s Bookmobile will be at Shed 2 in Eastern Market from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday for drop offs. You can call the organization at 313-659-8523 or email them at hello@birdiesbookmobile.org for a book pick-up also. 

Use the media player above to hear the full interview with Alyce Hartman, founder and executive director of Birdie’s Bookmobile.

More headlines from The Metro on April 12, 2024: 

• It’s been a tough season for the Pistons. To help us remember some better basketball times, we’re joined by writer and native Detroiter Eli Day, who recently wrote “The 2003-04 Pistons were the champions Detroit needed” for Detroit Metro Times. 
• It’s the start of spring and right in the thick of tax season. The last day to file taxes is April 15. President and CEO of the Accounting Aid Society Priscilla Perkins joined the show to discuss how to make the process easier for low- to moderate-income taxpayers.
• This Sunday on Essential Music, Anne Delisi will share a conversation she had with Motown Arranger Paul Reiser, Sr. We heard a clip of the essential conversation on The Metro.
• People are talking a lot about the new Detroit sign welcoming people to the city on Interstate 94. It was installed Tuesday ahead of the NFL draft. WDET’s Cary Junior, producer of Created Equal joined the show to share his thoughts.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.