OWL Fest—short for Opportunities With Literacy—is a traveling bookstore experience that brings the joy of reading directly to students and families across Tennessee. Hosted by Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education, OWL Fest visits priority schools to help children build their home libraries and celebrate literacy in a joyful, hands-on way.
At each event, students in Pre-K through 5th grade select six high-quality books from a curated collection to take home. With fun activities, community volunteers, and an uplifting atmosphere, OWL Fest inspires a love of reading and helps families turn everyday moments into literacy-rich experiences
OWL Fest is part of GELF’s mission to strengthen early literacy in Tennessee by building home libraries and fostering literacy-rich communities, because every child deserves the opportunity to become a confident, capable reader.
Why It Matters
- Only 40% of Tennessee 3rd graders read proficiently, which ranges from 22-38% in priority schools.
- A two-decade long study found that the presence of a home library increases children’s academic success, vocabulary development, attention, and job attainment.
- Children with as few as 25 books in the home complete an average of two more years of schooling than those with no books.
- Additionally, research from the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report: 8th Edition shows most children (93%) are more likely to finish reading books that they have picked out themselves and that those are often their favorite books (92%) demonstrating that the student-selection feature of OWL Fest is critical to inspiring reading motivation.
I’ve never had six books before.
5th Grade Student
Green Magnet School
Join the OWL Fest Volunteer Team!
Together, we’re helping Tennessee children build strong foundations in literacy—one book, one event, and one volunteer at a time. OWL Fest is a joyful, tangible way to give back and help kids across the state discover the magic of reading.
In September 2025, volunteer opportunities will be available across East, Middle, and West Tennessee, with multiple shifts to choose from. No experience necessary – just bring your energy and love of reading! Volunteers can expect joyful, high-energy literacy events full of meaningful moments.
Volunteers will receive:
- A limited-edition literacy-themed t-shirt
- A custom bookmark
- A children’s book to share with a child in your life
- Each shift also earns you an entry into the OWL Fest Impact Award drawing:
- Winners will direct a $500 Scholastic gift card to a Tennessee school or literacy nonprofit of their choice.
- More shifts = more chances to win and make an impact!
Sign up now and be part of something special this fall!
Seeing the excitement on the faces of the children was amazing. They couldn’t believe they could pick out six books to keep and not have to pay. It is a reminder that little things to some, are big things to a child.
Marianne Dunavant
Ford BlueOval City Community Relations
Teaching children how to read, and how to read well, is one of the most important things we can do to set them up for success in their education, in college and career, and in life. Thanks to our partners at GELF, students across the state have access to free books through OWL Fest to help them become strong readers.
Lizzette Reynolds
TN Commissioner of Education
The OWL Fest Project was a great success! Seeing the students glow and excitement of selecting books and realizing that they could keep them was the highlight of my day and very heartwarming!
Penny Tubbs
West TN Regional Director