Tulsa’s Book Bus brings free books and big smiles to local kids

A brightly colored bus rolling through Tulsa neighborhoods is doing more than turning heads — it’s turning kids into readers.

Books for Every Child

The literacy nonprofit Gaining Ground brings books into the neighborhoods that need them most through its Book Bus. With free books, popsicles, and even prizes, one little bus is having a big impact.

A familiar sound near Pine and Peoria means something special is pulling up: a bus filled with books, music, and popsicles.

“We provide about 500 kids each week access to amazing books of choice... and our total purpose is to provide access and to build home libraries for families that don’t have that disposable income,” said Gaining Ground Executive Director Lisa Shotts.

During the summer, the Gaining Ground Book Bus parks twice a week at spots like the North Mabee Boys & Girls Club and Chamberlain Park. And when it arrives, the kids come running.

Popsicles and Prizes Included

They climb aboard to pick out two free books — no returns necessary — and then slide out the other side to grab a popsicle and a card to write about what they’ve read.

Once they fill out the card, kids can bring it back next time for a prize.

“We are trying to provide every opportunity for our kids to write about reading, think about reading, talk about reading… and we really encourage that critical thinking,” said Shotts.

Interns like Paige Minden help make the magic happen. She’s been volunteering with the program since she was just 14.

Fueling Summer Reading

“We have kids who come every single week to the Book Bus. This is their thing they look forward to… they read big books and get a popsicle from us and just chat it up,” said Minden.

Paige says for many of these kids, it’s more than books — it’s attention, joy, and consistency when they’re not in school.

“A lot of them have been living in poverty their entire life. So being able to get a book and a popsicle is a big treat during the summer days," said Minden.

Next Wednesday and Thursday are the last days for the Book Bus this summer, but Gaining Ground says it’ll be back next year.

Here's the weekly schedule for the book bus:

WEDNESDAY

1. Dream Center North 200 W. 46th St. North at 2:50 pm
2. E 63rd St N & MLK Jr Bivd Behind Legacy School at 3:15 pm
3. Chamberlain Park 4940 N Frankfort Ave at 3:30 pm
4. North Mabee Boys & Girls Club 3001 N MLK Jr Blvd at 3:50 pm
5. Seminole Hills Apartments at 4:10 pm
6. Springdale Elementary Bus Loop at 4:25 pm
7. Mabee Red Shield Boys and Girls Club at 4:45 pm
8. Celia Clinton Parking Lot at 5:05 pm
9. Tecumseh St. & Florence Pl. at 5:15 pm
10. N Oswego Ave & E Virgin Pl at 5:30 pm
11. E Young St & N Quebec Ave at 5:50 pm
12. Apache Manor mailboxes at 6:10 pm
13. Mohawk Manor at 6:40 pm

THURSDAY

1. Ellen Ochoa Parking Lot at 5:00
2. S 116th E Ave & E 32nd PI at 5:20
3. Beaumont/Boca Vista Parking Lot 108th St. at 5:40 pm
4. Tradewinds at 6:00 pm
5. E 36th St & 114th East Ave, Tulsa, OK at 6:20
6. 37th Place and 121st E Ave at 6:30 pm
7. E 35th St & S 124th E Ave Tulsa, OK at 6:40
8. Briarglen CAP Parking Lot at 6:50 pm
9. E 33rd PI S & S 126th E Ave at 7:10
10. Sawmill Apartments Front Parking Lot at 7:20
11. S 130th E Pl at 7:35
12. Cimarron Apartments Front Parking Lot at 7:45
13. Ellen Ochoa Parking Lot at 8:00