WordPlay Connects is a community-focused nonprofit growing young readers in West Virginia–and we need your help.

Our mission is to connect kids with authors, illustrators, and free books to cultivate a lifelong love of reading. Since 2022, we’ve gifted more than 14,000 new books to kids through school programs and community events in the five-county region* we serve.

Twenty award-winning authors and illustrators–including Katherine Applegate, Peter H. Reynolds, Pablo Cartaya, Ashley Belote, Matt de la Pena, and Loren Long–have visited schools in our area. More than 7,500 students have met these inspiring creators, listened to their stories, and received free, signed copies of their books to take home and treasure.
More than 4,000 other young readers have eagerly chosen free books at area events, including our Tunes & Tales summer series, Book and a Movie Nights, and community festivals.

Many families in rural areas like ours have limited access to books, especially in these economically challenging times. Because of our programs and events, more children are able to discover new stories and new ways of seeing the world–and the positive impact spreads to their families, their communities, and beyond.

WordPlay Connects is working hard to make a difference in our neck of the woods. Please join us in our mission to grow young readers!

* WordPlay Connects serves Hardy, Hampshire, Grant, Mineral, and Pendleton counties.

Help Us Grow Young Readers

By WordPlay Connects

Help Us Grow Young Readers

WordPlay Connects provides free books to young West Virginians and broadens access to authors, illustrators, and new ways of seeing the world.