Wings for Kids will host a special “Mini-Book Festival” in partnership with the Charleston Literary Festival and Books and Beyond from Monday, Nov. 10, through Friday, Nov. 14, at the Arthur W. Christopher Community Center in downtown Charleston.
Each afternoon after school, WINGS students will meet featured authors and community leaders, take part in activities inspired by daily themes, and select books to take home through a mobile book fair powered by Books and Beyond.
The five-day event is designed to celebrate the power of stories to inspire imagination, connection, and growth. Together, the three organizations are working to ensure that Charleston’s young readers discover new perspectives, explore diverse voices, and see themselves reflected in the stories they read.
“This partnership represents exactly what we hope to achieve at Wings for Kids—creating enriching experiences that inspire our students and open doors to new possibilities,” said Julia Rugg, CEO of Wings for Kids. “By bringing notable authors directly to our students, we’re showing them that stories matter, voices matter, and that the world of literature is accessible to everyone.”
“Charleston Literary Festival is committed to ensuring that the joy of reading and the power of literature reach every corner of our community,” said Sarah Moriarty, executive director of Charleston Literary Festival. “Partnering with Wings for Kids and Books and Beyond allows us to connect distinguished authors with Charleston’s children, helping them build not only literacy skills but also confidence, empathy, and a sense of possibility.”
“Books have the power to bring people together, and that’s exactly what this partnership is all about,” said Jennifer Winkelmann, founder of Books and Beyond. “By working alongside Wings for Kids and Charleston Literary Festival, we’re helping young readers discover stories that reflect their world, spark their imagination, and remind them that our community believes in their potential.”
The Mini-Book Festival will feature an impressive lineup of distinguished guests, including Congressman James Clyburn, former NASA Administrator and astronaut Charles Bolden, and additional authors participating in the Charleston Literary Festival.
The event is exclusively for students enrolled in the Wings for Kids afterschool program at the Arthur W. Christopher Community Center and is not open to the public.
For more information, visit wingsforkids.org.