YDR Insider

Six-year-old Elijah Wonder and his mother, Jennifer Hall, were inspired by the Little Free Library spots around York County and wanted to bring the free library idea into their neighborhood.

From there came the idea of Elijah’s Little Free Bookhouse and Word Event. Mother and son want to provide free reading materials to kids, especially those artistic youths in the neighborhood.

To get started, Elijah has secured some help — financially and donation-wise — from Irvin’s Books, Sonnewald Natural Foods and Donna Watkins the Bug Lady. All they needed was a home for those books.

So they turned to us. Friday, Elijah and Jennifer stopped by the YDR offices to pick up their very own newspaper box. Elijah filled managing editor Randy Parker in on his plan, and then helped Parker wheel the box out on a dolly.

Elijah plans to paint the box and decorate it with some animals. The box is slated to be placed in the Hope Street Garden and Learning Lab, the outdoor classroom for several organizations including Lincoln Charter School, where Elijah goes to school.

Elijah said even if you don’t go to school in the neighborhood, you can still borrow a book. He loves to read and wants to share books with others. His favorite books are the “Captain Underpants” series.