Tenikka’s Books for Kids, also known as #TB4K, is back for Year 9! This year’s book donation drive runs from March 9-21, 2026. We are excited to continue our efforts to promote youth literacy in our community.
Tenikka’s Books for Kids was created by Action News Jax Anchor Tenikka Hughes in 2018 and has put more than 40,000 free books in the hands of local children.
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Tenikka’s Books for Kids is asking for donations of new and like new books for local children from birth to 18 years old. This includes everything from picture books for babies, books for early readers, and chapter books for teens.
The books collected during Tenikka’s Books for Kids are given to kids who participate in the Jacksonville Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. The library gives the donated books from #TB4K to children and their families for FREE.
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Tenikka’s Books for Kids aims to promotes youth literacy in three main ways:
- It encourages children to read year-round, thus preventing the “summer slide” where kids lose two to three months of what they learned in school.
- Two, it provides free books for children to build their libraries at home.
- It encourages adults to read to and with the children in their lives.
HOW YOU CAN DONATE TO #TB4K:
- Drop off new or very gently used books for children birth to 18 years old at any branch of the Jacksonville Public Library, First Coast YMCA branches, Ackerman Cancer Center and First Florida Credit Union locations.
- Order books from the #TB4K Amazon Wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1S491BCRF7X6W/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex
- Make an online cash donation to the Tenikka’s Books for Kids Fund through the nonprofit Library Foundation of Jacksonville here: https://bit.ly/425S9qW
- SHOP LOCAL AND DONATE at these participating local bookstores:
- San Marco Books and More - 1971 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville 32207. Purchase in-store or online: https://bit.ly/tenikkasmb
- The BookMark - 220 First Street, Neptune Beach, 32266. Shop and donate in-store.
- Happy Medium Books Cafe - 2724 Park Street, Jacksonville, 32205. Purchase and donate in-store.
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On behalf of Action News Jax Anchor Tenikka Hughes and our Action News Jax Family Focus partners, thank you in advance for your continued support of #TB4K.
You can find more information about local literacy resources for children and families plus watch our 30-minute special program Raising Readers here: https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/watch-action-news-jax-family-focus-presents-raising-readers-special/RXDVHBBADVFDRGZ44Y5YJ2WMV4/
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