Books with Wings sends brand new books and personal letters to over 1200 children living on six isolated Canadian reserves. We consult closely with primary school principals and teachers to ensure that we respond directly to their children’s literary needs. The children in the program direct the project through their requests, which they send to us in their letters; correspondence is a vital part of Books with Wings. All books are given directly to the students themselves to take home and keep. We send works on sports, art, superheroes, and native culture, including stories written by indigenous authors. Books with Wings sends ONLY new books.

The letters we send ask questions about specific storybooks, so we hope to encourage students to reflect on what they are reading. We respond immediately to their comments so the children know their answers are interesting and important. Additionally, this interactive approach provides the students with an opportunity to develop their literacy skills.