In the heart of The Bronx, where vibrant cultures and resilient communities define the landscape, one book lounge is rewriting the story of childhood literacy. Established in October 2024, Storyland: The Bronx Book Haven isn't just a place to read—it's a movement. Kids walk in onto a red carpet, listen to authors share their stories, and leave with books in their hands and confidence in their voices.
Earlier this year, Storyland received a surprise donation on The Drew Barrymore Show—a game-changing moment that is now helping to expand its programs. With a growing list of teachers eager to bring their students to Storyland and upcoming events like Author Monique Duncan and Trey Baker’s poetry workshop, the momentum is only building.
Award-winning Author of Freedom Braids Monique Duncan will be the featured author on March 18th, and 2x Grammy-nominated spoken word artist Trey Baker will lead a two-day Poetry and Spoken Word Workshop on July 13th and 14. (See Events)
Image (L to R) of Drew Barrymore, co-host Sunny Anderson, Executive Director Sulma Arzu-Brown, Dr. Maria Armstrong: Image contributed
The urgency of Storyland's mission is crystal clear from recent literacy stats. As of 2023, only about 51.7% of New York City's third through eighth graders were proficient in reading, and The Bronx lags behind other boroughs in English Language Arts scores. That's why community-driven efforts like Storyland are crucial for closing the literacy gap. (Chalkbeat.org)
At the helm of this transformative haven is Executive Director Sulma Arzu-Brown, a proud Garifuna woman with deep roots in The Bronx. Her vision is clear: "Our vision is to see children grow loving to read one dope book at a time," she asserts. Arzu-Brown's leadership has been instrumental in creating an environment where children are not only encouraged to read but are celebrated for it.
One of Storyland's flagship programs, the 'Class Trip Featuring an Independent Author,' offers students an immersive literary experience. During these visits, children engage in mindfulness exercises, participate in interactive readings, and receive signed copies of the featured book.
Image (L to R) of Drew Barrymore, Executive Director Sulma Arzu-Brown, Dr. Maria Armstrong, and co-host Sunny Anderson: Image contributed
The $25,000 donation from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, announced during Arzu-Brown's appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show in January 2025, has been pivotal.
With these funds, Storyland plans to increase the number of class trips, provide more books for children, and host additional workshops that encourage creative expression through reading and writing. This will help accommodate more students from the growing waitlist, ensuring that even more children in The Bronx have access to the transformative power of storytelling.
Community support has been a cornerstone of Storyland's success. From initial book donations by Scholastic Inc. to furniture provided by Hudson Valley iCampus, the collective effort underscores the power of unity in addressing literacy challenges. As Arzu-Brown passionately states, "You can’t tell me kids don’t like to read. They like to read in a loving, beautiful environment designed for them … and they wanna read to each other."
(See Storyland: The Bronx Book Haven/Drew Barrymore episode)
Storyland: The Bronx Book Haven shows how community-driven initiatives can make a real difference. By nurturing a love for reading in a welcoming space, Storyland is not only addressing literacy rates but also empowering the next generation of thinkers, leaders, and storytellers.
Author's note: I was born, raised, and still live in The Bronx. I have been told that I romanticize New York City too much. And because drama tends to sell newspapers more than good news, people often ask me, "How can you live in The Bronx? Aren't you scared?" I won’t deny that this borough has its challenges, but with community leaders like Sulma Arzu-Brown, the only danger I see is an incredible resource like Storyland: The Bronx Book Haven not getting the support it deserves—simply because its story gets drowned out by negative headlines.
To anyone reading this and thinking, "I wish I could help, but I don’t have the money," I get it and know—times are tough. But support isn’t just about donations. We can still make a difference.
Visit Storyland’s About page and leave a positive message.
Share their website with friends, family, and educators.
Encourage others to do the same.
Follow and help spread the word about Storyland's mission on social media. Instagram @storyland_thebxbookhaven
Visit Storyland: The Bronx Book Haven
Location: 652 Exterior Street, Bronx, NY 10451 (Inside Bronx Terminal Market) Website: storylandbx.org.
Let’s help Storyland: The Bronx Book Haven put a "dope book" in the hands of every child who walks through its doors.
As always, thanks for reading!
Damian Ali
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