Welcome to New York BookPALS! Ready to make a difference in the lives of NYC schoolkids? Now is the perfect time to get involved. We're always looking for more readers and donors. If you're a union actor interested in becoming a BookPAL, just drop an e-mail to nybookpals@aol.com and we'll get you more information. Usually, BookPALS read for just an hour a week, but we're flexible! We have school partnerships in all five boroughs of Manhattan! If you're interested in having your school be part of the program, call NY BookPALS at 718-833-0316. There's no better time to get involved than the present. Our volunteers all have busy lives, but once you find that time for BookPALS, you won't know how you ever did without it! Make sure and read more about NY BookPALS in the articles below! Thank you to all of our talented, generous readers, great students, caring administrators, and important donors! Jump to: New York Supporters Latest News & Updates:

Pencil PALS program kicks off this year at PS 16 in Corona, Queens! Saturday, January 01 2011 @ 01:13 PM EST

This is our second year of partnering the Pencil PALS program with the Writers Guild East Foundation.
Please see some of the highlights from our program last year below.

Nora Ephron is pictured with students from our final event last year.

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1 comments Most Recent Post: 02/16 12:58PM by Anonymous

At P.S. 111 the students had a special treat for Halloween! Tuesday, February 02 2010 @ 09:47 PM EST

Jon Mindell, a volunteer actor with NY BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in the Schools), dressed as Batman this year and visited several first grade classes at PS 111. This unique program was done last year and was such a huge hit that all first grade classroom teachers requested his visit this year.


Jon Mindell is pictured reading to one of the first grade classes.

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1 comments Most Recent Post: 09/06 04:06AM by Anonymous

Pencil PALS program started this year at PS 255 in Brooklyn Tuesday, August 04 2009 @ 08:34 PM EDT

This year twenty eight adult Pencil PALS wrote to students in Mrs. Venturino's class 4th grade class at PS 255 in Brooklyn. As you can see by the pictures, friendships were created and the final event was a fun day for all.


The students in Mrs. Venturino’s 4th grade class showed the visiting adult Pencil PALS their ballroom and salsa dancing skills. The class had won numerous awards for their achievements in this dance form.


Evelyn Fermin is pictured with her student Pencil PAL Andrea Lee at PS 255. Evelyn visited that day with Andrea during her physical education class.

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Reading Club Assemblies acknowledge students for reading 30 or more books during the school year Tuesday, August 04 2009 @ 07:45 PM EDT

The Reading Club Assemblies were a huge success this year. NY BookPALS traveled to two schools to put on an end of year performance and award ceremony to congratulate the children for reading thirty or more books during the school year. Students in 4th and 5th grade that have read 30 books or more are given a T-shirt from NY BookPALS to acknowledge the reading that they have done.

Puppets were created this year for our Reading Club Assemblies. Pictured are Tatiana Pico and Noemi De La Puente performing during the assembly.


Pictured performing are Tatiana Pico, Margaret Flanagan, Barbara Mundy, Noemi De La Puente, and Jon Mindel.

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2 comments Most Recent Post: 10/23 07:04AM by Anonymous

End of Year Volunteer Recognition Event at MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) Tuesday, August 04 2009 @ 02:31 PM EDT

For the second year in a row, NY BookPALS hosted a special gathering to thank those that volunteer their time to BookPALS.


Pictured are:
(Back row) Julie Reiley, Megan Hunt, Wallace Wood, Barbara Mundy, Rob Neil, Michael Stever, Rebecca Damon, Jason Deitz, Jon Mindel, Sheila Mart ,Margaret Dawson (Middle row) Evelyn Fermin, Ruth Last, Francesca Di Mauro with daughter, Leila Holiday (Front row) Julie Reily, Nico Bocio, Faye Lindsey.

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2 comments Most Recent Post: 02/02 12:28AM by Anonymous

Read Across America Celebrated at PS 255 in Brooklyn Thursday, April 02 2009 @ 03:39 PM EDT

BookPALS in several boroughs of New York City read in classrooms to celebrate Read Across America (Dr. Seuss' birthday).

Paul Hecht is pictured reading to the students.

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2 comments Most Recent Post: 06/27 12:57AM by Anonymous

Junior Book PALS program started at Scarsdale High School Thursday, April 02 2009 @ 03:28 PM EDT

NY Book PALS started a Junior BookPALS program this past fall at the Scarsdale High School.
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Pictured is president of the Build On Books club Mara Walker with other members of at Scarsdale High School.

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1 comments Most Recent Post: 09/06 10:22AM by Anonymous

Batman inspires students to read this year at PS 111 Tuesday, December 30 2008 @ 07:08 AM EST

Jon Mindell, a volunteer actor with NY BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in the Schools) dressed as Batman this year and visited a first grade class at PS 111.

Jon Mindell is shown reading to the students.

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NY BookPALS spearheads pilot reading program for one of the most underserved populations in NYC. Thursday, July 17 2008 @ 07:40 PM EDT

Several volunteer actors with NY BookPALS gathered this week for an orientation/observation at PS 811 in Manhattan. They will be reading books aloud to several classes during the summer school program. This is a unique program for NY BookPALS as the students have multiple disabilities that include autism, severe emotional/behavioral needs, and/or severe language/communication disorders. Maria Cabezas, the NY BookPALS coordinator originated this program as she felt that volunteer actors could make a huge impact in the Literacy Curriculum in these special needs populations. This is the first time that NY BookPALS will work with NYC Special Education District 75. As stated on their website, “District 75 provides citywide educational, vocational, and behavior support programs for students who are on the autism spectrum, severely challenged, and/or multiply disabled. District 75 consists of 56 school organizations, home and hospital instruction, and vision and hearing services.”

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Reading Club Assemblies motivate 4th and 5th grade students to read! Sunday, June 29 2008 @ 01:41 PM EDT

This year BookPALS went into two schools to put on an end of year performance and award ceremony to congratulate the children for reading thirty or more books during the school year. Students in 4th and 5th grade that have read 30 books or more are given a T-shirt from NY BookPALS to acknowledge the reading that they have done.


Pictured performing are: Barbara Mundy, Eric Saiet, Jon Mindell, Tom Berger, Margaret Flanagan

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