The interior of Tree House Books, located on Susquehanna Avenue near 15th Street. | LILLIAN PRIETO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
At Tree House Books, the selection ranges from Colleen Hoover to Charlotte Brontë to Dr. Seuss. And everything is free—Tree House Books lets anyone take home and keep forever as many new reads as they’d like. Patrons are simply asked to give their name to the front desk.
”We are a part of a great ecosystem that cares about youth,” said Executive Director Michael Brix.
Micheal Brix works on his computer. | LILLIAN PRIETO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
The unconventional free bookstore model is a part of a nonprofit initiative with the Free Library of Philadelphia to address the systemic literacy crisis in North Philadelphia, where 71% of fourth graders are not reading at grade level, according to data in a January 2024 study from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Tree House Books’s ethos is simple: adequate and equal access to books at a young age fosters literacy skills and success further in life.
Each year, they distribute more than 100,000 books to local organizations, individuals and schools. For the organization, promoting literacy and success doesn’t just end at a free bookstore. They offer after-school programs for children and teens, summer camps and even step outside of their usual location on Susquehanna Ave to take the vast collection on wheels across the city in a Traveling Tree House van and distribute books.
The cycles of poverty and illiteracy are intertwined; when those who are not given the resources to succeed, fail, the issue continues.
In Philadelphia, the poverty rate is 19.7%, according to 2024 U.S Census data. Adults at the lowest levels of literacy are ten times more likely to live below the poverty line, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
The exterior of Tree House Books. | LILLIAN PRIETO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Fifty-two percent of Philadelphia adults are functionally illiterate, putting them at a significant disadvantage in applying for a job, continuing their education or reading to their child early on, according to the literacy nonprofit Achieve Now.
“Through historical disinvestment in this neighborhood, the kids who are growing up here do not have the access to resources that kids that grow up in other zip codes have,” Brix said.
Tree House Books was created as a used bookstore by members of the Church of the Advocate in 2005, but the store quickly pivoted to a nonprofit model following the development and popularity of its afterschool programming.
“Books in the homes is an indicator of future success,” Brix said. “We really wanted to make sure the kids got books into their homes. We worked for many years with our partners and other folks around the city to pour into these neighborhoods.”
A child looks through the window of the play area inside the store. | LILLIAN PRIETO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Tree House Books employees work directly with school districts and families to ensure that students’ needs are met. The program is personalized with a 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio. The after-school programming curriculum is provided by Read by 4th, Tree House Book’s parent organization.
One student in the literacy program, who began with a below-proficiency reading level in kindergarten, worked one-on-one with an instructor for more than a year to achieve proficiency by first grade.
“We were able to, because we had the time,” Brix said. “The first ‘A’ that she got on her report card in reading, she ran over here from her school, like super excited to show us, that was awesome. You know, she was really proud of herself.”
Aside from Brix, the heart of the organization are the staff and volunteers who work more directly with students. He describes it as a combination of a culture of care and restorative justice.
Giving Library and Book Donations Manager Emma Goldstein’s favorite part of working there is being surrounded by and inspired by all the children.
Emma Goldstein organizes books. | LILLIAN PRIETO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
“They’re amazing, a lot of them use this as a third space to hang out after school,” Goldstein said.
Laasya Narumanchi began volunteering at Tree House Books a year ago after attending Philadelphia Literacy Day with her roommate, where they both applied. Narumanchi volunteers at the library under Goldstein and runs the Tree House Books’ club at Temple, which fundraises for the larger organization.
The sophomore international business major, on a pre-law track, knows that her major and career path are unconventional for working at Tree House Books. But seeing the organization’s impact on students has influenced her.
“They’re really, really sweet kids. And you can see that every time you’re helping them, you’re actively making a difference with them,” Narumanchi said. ”Whether it’s just, helping them with their homework or playing with them outside.”