Annual service-learning initiative helps address early literacy gaps while teaching generosity
ATLANTA, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Primrose Schools®, The Leader in Early Education and Care®, announced today that Primrose children, families and staff at more than 560 independently owned Primrose schools across the country, donated over 109,000 new and gently used books through this year's Og's Bountiful Book Drive.
Students from Primrose School of St. Charles at Heritage in St. Louis, Mo. contribute to Og’s Bountiful Book Drive, practicing caring and generosity while helping more children discover the joy of reading.
A young learner from Primrose School of Littleton in Denver, Colo., enjoys story time during Og’s Bountiful Book Drive
With stacks of books ready to donate, children and teachers from Primrose School of Edina in Minneapolis, Minn., help bring the joy of reading to more families through Og’s Bountiful Book Drive.
Children and staff at Primrose School of North Naples in Naples, Fla., deliver 1,000 donated books to benefit underserved families in the community.
In The Primrose Friends YouTube series episode, Og the Bookworm Learns a Lesson on Kindness & Caring — One To Grow On!, children learn how kindness and caring help make the world a better place.
Speed
Speed
This annual initiative, held each February and March in honor of Read Across America Day, expands access to books in local communities while helping young children practice generosity in action.
Over 109,000 Books Donated Nationwide in 2026
420,000+ books donated since 2023
All classrooms engage in lessons and activities around book sharing, caring and donating
"The first five years are a critical time for building strong literacy skills and nurturing social-emotional development," said Dr. April Poindexter, Head of Curriculum and Innovation at Primrose Schools. "When children participate in initiatives like Og's Bountiful Book Drive, they're engaging in purposeful early learning experiences that demonstrate how generosity can create meaningful, lasting impact."
Part of a Bigger Commitment
Og's Bountiful Book Drive is one of three Primrose PromiseSM Giving Events, part of the Primrose Promise Corporate Social Responsibility program inspired by the mission to forge a path that leads to a brighter future for all children.
Embedded within the exclusive, research-informed Balanced Learning® approach, Primrose Promise initiatives give children opportunities throughout the year to participate in meaningful service-learning experiences — nurturing generosity, empathy and responsibility alongside academic growth.
Why Early Literacy Matters
The first five years are a period of rapid brain development, when neural connections that support language, problem solving and social-emotional skills are formed. Approximately 90% of brain development occurs before age 5, underscoring how influential early experiences can be.
These findings reinforce the critical role initiatives like annual book drives play in supporting children during this foundational stage of life.
Learning Through Action
Through hands-on service-learning, Primrose children and their families actively participate in the giving process:
Select gently used books from home
Purchase new titles to bring to school
Sort and organize donated books
Help distribute them to local libraries, hospitals, schools and nonprofit organizations
Og® the Bookworm, one of the 12 Primrose Friends embedded in the Balanced Learning curriculum, represents the character trait of caring. Through Og's Bountiful Book Drive, children experience how literacy and compassion go hand in hand, reinforcing the Primrose belief that who children become is as important as what they know.
Extended Learning at Home
Families can also reinforce these lessons at home through The Primrose Friends YouTube series, available to families everywhere, bringing character development to life in fun, age-appropriate content.
In the episode, Og the Bookworm Learns a Lesson on Kindness & Caring — One To Grow On!, children learn how kindness and caring help make the world a better place and you a better friend — a message that mirrors the spirit of Og® the Bookworm.
Media Note:
Local Primrose schools are available for interviews and photo opportunities featuring their Og's Bountiful Book Drive initiatives. To connect with a school in your area, contact us at [email protected].
About Primrose Schools®
Primrose Schools is the leader in providing premier early education and care to children and families in the United States. Founded in 1982, there are more than 560 Primrose schools in 36 states and Washington, D.C. today. Each school is independently owned and operated by Franchise Owners who partner with parents to help children build the right foundation for future learning and life. Primrose believes who children become is as important as what they know. The exclusive Primrose Balanced Learning® approach is created from the best early education wisdom and balances purposeful play with nurturing guidance from teachers to encourage curiosity, creativity, confidence and compassion. For more information, visit www.PrimroseSchools.com, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram, explore our stories and resources, sign up for our emails and find a Primrose school near you.
Share this article