SerpApi.Org
A repurposed school bus is helping Pinellas County kids avoid summer reading loss.
The Juvenile Welfare Board’s Book Bus, which launched in 2018, gives children of all ages the opportunity to pick out two free new books.
This year, the three-week program, which started July 6 and runs through Thursday,will make 81 stops from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs.
Last year, the Book Bus distributed 10,000 books to 5,000 children.
Although the bus is not wheelchair-accessible, staff members bring out bins of books so children can browse and choose their own.
The Book Bus also offers a limited selection of bilingual Spanish books and a small number of braille books. Books that address mental wellness are also available, according to Brianna Ray, community collaboration coordinator for the Juvenile Welfare Board.
