The Story Lady
A librarian named Storybook Maze wants to make sure more kids have books to read.
Storybook Maze
Librarian Storybook Maze (left) often hosts events where she gives books to kids for free.
Something wonderful happened when Storybook Maze started reading to her niece on her front steps in Baltimore, Maryland. As Maze got deeper into the story, more and more kids from the neighborhood gathered at her feet, wanting to hear what would happen next. Maze was thrilled. “Go home and read a book!” she told her audience when story time was over. When Maze found out that many kids don’t have books at home, she wanted to do something about it.
Maze became a librarian, but that didn’t solve the problem. Many neighborhoods don’t have libraries, so there’s no easy way to get books. That’s when Maze decided to take the books to the neighborhoods.
Storybook Maze
Storybook Maze (right) sets up vending machines in neighborhoods without libraries.
Maze has dedicated herself to finding ways to put books in kids’ hands. She regularly hosts story times in which she reads to kids in different Baltimore neighborhoods. And, using donated books, Maze has set up book vending machines and temporary bookstores in neighborhoods without libraries. Both of these offer books for free to anyone who wants them. Maze also posts videos on social media to let people know about the need to put books in more neighborhoods, so everyone has a chance to read.
Storybook Maze
Storybook Maze introduces a kid to a book she might like!
Maze’s next goal is to fill a brightly colored trolley (a type of vehicle) with books and take it to kids all over Baltimore. She’s currently raising money online to pay for the trolley and the books.
“As the wheels of the Book Trolley turn, so [will] the pages of countless stories waiting to be discovered,” Maze wrote on the fundraiser website.
