Sidney Keys III has helped hundreds of young readers develop a love of books.

Diwang Valdez

STANDARDS

Common Core: RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.4, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.7, W.6-8.4, SL.6-8.1

NCSS: Culture • Individual Development and Identity • Civic Ideals and Practices

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CHANGEMAKER

Sharing the Power of Books

Sidney Keys III is raising awareness about the importance of diverse stories.

April 2022
By Meg Richardson

Diwang Valdez

Publishers donate books to help with the cost of running the club.

When Sidney Keys III was younger, he didn’t love reading. Part of the problem was that he had a hard time finding books featuring main characters that he could identify with. Then one day he visited a bookstore in St. Louis, Missouri, where he grew up, that specializes in children’s books about Black characters, and everything changed.

“I picked up a book with a Black boy on the cover who looked like me,” he recalls. “I just lay down on the carpet and kept reading.” 

Since then, Sidney, now 15, has been an enthusiastic reader. “I love being able to lose myself in a book and see myself as the main character,” he says. He wanted to share the experience with other Black boys. So he started a book club just for them. 

Spreading the Word

Sidney dedicated his club to bringing books about Black characters directly to young Black readers. He named it Books N Bros. Each month, members get a book selected by Sidney, discussion guides, and fun extras like water bottles and snacks. Members meet in person or online to discuss the book. A membership starts at $25 per month, but the program offers free memberships to boys whose families can’t afford the fees.

One of Sidney’s favorite parts of running Books N Bros is seeing young people connect with a book for the first time. “Sometimes they come to a meeting and they’re like, ‘I don’t want to be here,’ but then they start to read a book they relate to and you see a smile on their face,” he says.

Advocating for More

In the future, Sidney plans to open more chapters of his book club around the country—while continuing to advocate for more books that feature Black characters.

“If you want to be an astronaut but you haven’t heard about any Black astronauts, it could be hard for you to believe in yourself,” he explains. “Books can change that.”

SKILL SPOTLIGHT: Social and Emotional Learning

How did Sidney feel when he identified with a character in a book? How did that feeling inspire him? What book, movie, or person has made a difference in your life? How were you inspired?

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