Children's Book Drive

This summer, The Muny is partnering with Ameren and Ready Readers to promote children’s literacy in St. Louis during our production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

Research proves people with strong literacy skills are far less likely to live in poverty, and reading aloud to a child is the most important thing one can do to begin building literacy skills. Early exposure supports language sounds, vocabulary and introduces basic educational concepts.

We’re on a mission to collect new and lightly used children’s literature to place more books into the hands, homes and schools of St. Louis children in need. 

Each night of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast we will collect new and lightly used children’s books to distribute throughout low-income communities. 

Four collection sites will be on The Muny campus including the Box Office, Purina Plaza, the Lower Parking Lot and Lichtenstein Plaza (near the free seat area).

Shop local and support your favorite independent bookstores! Approximately 28% of all local bookstore revenue recirculates into the community, compared to 4% of the big box stores. 

We are thrilled to partner with Eye See Me, Left Bank Books, Main Street Books and Novel Neighbor for our book drive! These independent bookstores would be happy to help you pick out the perfect book (or two!).

Prefer to buy online? Click the logo of your bookstore of choice to be directed to their book drive registry.

Before every Disney’s Beauty and the Beast performance, a Children’s Literacy Festival will occur at Purina Plaza and Lichtenstein Plaza. 

Join us for Story Time with Ready Readers and stroll through the Story Book Walks located throughout The Muny campus before taking your seats to see the tale as old as time.

Thank you to Hogan Transportation for being a promotional partner for this book drive.