A Milestone for Literacy in New Jersey
Larry Abrams reached a significant milestone this week by distributing his five millionth book to local students. The founder of BookSmiles, a non-profit organization based in Cherry Hill, reached this number seven years after he began the operation. His work focuses on providing reading materials to teachers in under-resourced schools across Philadelphia and New Jersey. The books are donated to classrooms where students often lack access to home libraries, ensuring that young learners have physical copies to take home.
Abrams started the project in 2017 after a moment of frustration in his own classroom. A student asked him for a book to keep, and he realized he lacked the resources to fulfill the request. Inspired by the philanthropic efforts of Dolly Parton, who runs a widespread book-gifting program, he decided to create a localized solution. He now oversees a warehouse filled with large containers, known as gaylords, each holding approximately 1,500 volumes. These stacks weigh over 1,000 pounds apiece, representing the sheer volume of donated inventory the organization processes weekly.
Expanding the Warehouse Operations
The operation recently moved to a larger warehouse in Cherry Hill to accommodate the increasing volume of donations. This facility serves as a central hub where volunteers sort through thousands of books every week to organize them by reading level and subject matter. The logistical challenge involves managing supply chains that originate from community book drives and corporate donations. By keeping the warehouse organized, BookSmiles allows teachers to visit and select specific titles for their students at no cost.
Abrams emphasizes that he cannot supply traditional school items like paper or pens, but books remain a unique commodity he can provide in bulk. He often tells teachers that he is ready to help them stock their shelves whenever they need. The warehouse functions as a library of sorts, but one where the inventory is constantly cycling out to serve the classrooms that need it most. This approach keeps overhead low while maximizing the reach of every donated title.
Impact on Local Classrooms and Future Growth
Teachers from Philadelphia and New Jersey continue to rely on the service to fill gaps in their reading programs. Research shows that access to home libraries correlates strongly with reading proficiency and academic success in early elementary grades. By placing books directly in the hands of children who do not have them, the project removes a primary barrier to early literacy. Abrams expects to distribute thousands more books throughout the remainder of the 2026 academic year.
The broader implications for literacy in the region are clear. Many students in high-poverty school districts face a "book desert," where reading materials are absent both at home and in immediate proximity. BookSmiles provides a consistent flow of literature to combat this trend. Looking ahead, the organization plans to increase its capacity further, potentially reaching more districts in the mid-Atlantic region. For now, the focus remains on the daily work of sorting, packing, and delivering the next million books to classrooms that need them.