Books to Kids connects children of historically underserved communities with high-quality, diverse literature and their creators
Our Story
Books to Kids is a Denver-based nonprofit formed in 2018. Books to Kids' Vision is to cultivate a community where all children are excited about reading and feel inspired to become the next generation of creators.
Our mission is to connect children of historically underserved communities with high-quality, diverse literature and their creators.
Books to Kids does this by bringing authors and illustrators (or creators, as we like to say) to Title I schools and other organizations in the Denver Metro area. The talented creators we partner with present students with a book talk and Books to Kids commits to purchasing 100 copies of the book to give to children attending the Author Visit.
Books that feature diverse characters and themes can serve as “windows” and “doors” for young readers and we recognize the powerful impact these books have on children.
By creating opportunities for children to engage with creators as well as providing them their very own copy of a high-quality book, we increase access to literature that will not only get them excited about reading but also show them that they have the capability to become creators themselves.
We value creativity, inclusivity, and education, and diversity.
We hope for a world where everyone's basic human rights are respected and protected.
All children deserve access to high-quality books.
All children deserve opportunities to connect with the world around them in meaningful ways.
Leadership
Marc Lavoie, Executive Director
A former elementary teacher and founder of Books to Kids, Marc owns Speedy Dog, LLC and works as the Financial Manager of Second Star to the Right Children’s Books.
Dea Lavoie, Board of Directors
Dea, a former elementary school teacher, opened Second Star to the Right Books in 2014. Dea's commitment and passion are invaluable and continue to inspire us with new ideas.
Evin Moore, Board of Directors
Evin Moore is a Sr. Marketing Manager for Charles Schwab, with over a decade of financial services experience. He is also the founder of Burning Through Pages and sits on the board of Kids At Their Best, a rural youth enrichment and feeding program. Evin also spends his time doing no-cost nonprofit and small business consulting around the state.
Outside of his professional and volunteer life, Evin spends time with his two young children (Penelope and Ronan), and taking daily walks with his best friend, who also happens to be a dog. When there isn’t a pandemic, you can often find him reading at various coffee shops and restaurants around Denver – his favorite pastime.
Alli Panzarella, Associate Director
Alli is a former elementary music teacher and recently relocated to Colorado from Illinois, where she is originally from. Alli completed her Bachelors degree in Music Education in 2018 at Elmhurst University and earned a certificate in Arts Management from Colorado State University in 2024. When she is not working, Alli enjoys hiking, cooking for her family, reading with her cats nearby, and playing chess.
Partners
