Nothing is more precious than teaching a child to read. It's empowering for caregivers and children, but it's a way to spread the love of words to the next generation, opening their eyes and minds to new possibilities. 

And while learning to read is a powerful milestone, books aren't always accesible. That's something Jennifer Little is trying to change with her nonprofit board book collection dubbed Little Hands Book Bank.

“As a family that loves to read together, it’s hard to imagine that there are young children who don't have books and the opportunity to read with someone at home," Little said. "The reality is that books are a luxury for many families."

So she created Little Hands to make books more accessible to underprivileged families. Parents and children can donate their gently used books to Little Hands, which then distributes them to other families "so all children cna experience the joy of reading and be better prepared for kindergarten," Little said.

The program is also a great way for families and organizations to give back to the community by organizing book collection drives or the purchase of new books, she added. In that vein, Plano's This Side Up! Family Center will accept donations of gently used pre-school titles through the month of September.

Families can drop their books at 1100 Capitol Avenue from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, or from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 8 and 22nd.  The need is for hardcover and softcover books for children ages 0-6 such as picture books, alphabet books, rhyming books, story books and books referencing shapes, animal, colors and numbers. Books in Spanish are also desired.

“I've always loved books and I've passed that love on to my son by reading to him from the time he was a baby. I wanted to make sure the books he outgrew would go to children that really needed them," Little said. "I know I'm not the only parent who feels that way, and I created the Little Hands Book Bank to put a natural process of book donation and sharing in place in the North Texas area. And, more importantly as a parent, it provides a great way to teach my son about appreciating what we have and sharing it with others.”

For more information about Little Hands Book Bank and other ways to contribute, visit facebook.com/littlehandsbookbank or contact info@littlehandsbookbank.org