RIF Celebrates 60 Years With 1,500 Free Books at the Boston Book Festival
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) gave away 1,500 free children’s books at the Boston Book Festival on Saturday, October 17, 2026, as part of our 60th anniversary celebration. Kids, families, and educators filled our tent in Copley Square, just outside the Boston Public Library, until every last book had found a new home.
At a glance
• Event: Boston Book Festival 2026
• Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
• Location: Copley Square, Boston, Massachusetts
• Books given away: 1,500 free children’s books
• Special guest: Author Angela DiTerlizzi, reading A Very Scary Book
• Festival attendance: An estimated 20,000 to 25,000 guests
What happened at RIF’s Boston Book Festival tent?
Every visitor could choose one free book for themselves or for a child in their life, and all 1,500 books were gone by the end of the day. The festival drew book lovers from all over New England, and our tent saw a steady stream of them from start to finish. Young children came with their families to read together, while educators stopped by looking for new ways to build reading motivation in their classrooms.
Families could also pick up free reading resources and activities to take home. Kids even wrote and mailed postcards to someone important in their lives.
Who read aloud at RIF’s tent?
Children’s author Angela DiTerlizzi, a longtime friend of RIF, shared an energetic read-aloud of her new book, A Very Scary Book. Afterward, she spent time with the kids and signed free copies of the book. One young reader told Angela that she wants to be an author too when she grows up.
Why does RIF give free books at community events?
Choosing a book to keep helps children see themselves as readers. That idea has guided RIF since 1966, and it is at the heart of programs like Books for Ownership. Events like the Boston Book Festival let us put books directly into kids’ hands and connect with the families and educators who keep them reading all year.
How can you celebrate RIF’s 60th anniversary?
This festival was one of many ways we’re marking 60 years of getting books to kids. Explore 60 years of RIF impact to see where we’ve been and where we’re headed next.