The Great Neighborhood Food Drive
by Namu Marupudi
When ten-year-old Olivia learns that a family on her street needs groceries, she can't stop thinking about it.
Read for Me opens the full-screen reader with narration; titles with read-along timing also highlight the words as they are read.
About this story
Olivia is ten years old and loves her neighborhood dearly — so when she overhears her mom on the phone saying 'The Chen family needs groceries again,' her stomach twists with sadness: the Chens have three children who go to her school, and she hadn't realized they were struggling. That night she lies awake: how many others needed help? In the morning, she grabs her notebook and writes in big, bold letters: THE GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD DRIVE. Then she builds her team, one kindness at a time: best friend Marcus, tall and organized, excellent at making lists ('I'm in!'); Rosa, who makes the best tamales on the whole street ('Count on me, mija!'); Mr. Hadley, the retired teacher who knows absolutely everyone ('I've been waiting for someone to start something like this'); and classmates Diego, shy but very brave, and Priya, creative and full of wonderful ideas. A big-hearted story about noticing, organizing, and a neighborhood coming together to feed its own.
- Neighborhood — the streets and people around your home
- Food drive — collecting food for families who need it
- Groceries — the food families buy each week
- Organize — to plan who does what, like Marcus's lists
- Volunteer — someone who helps because they care
- Tamale — Rosa's delicious specialty, wrapped with love
- Contribution — whatever each person brings
- Community — everyone, helping everyone
Similar themes
View all
Share a review
Tell other families what your child thought of this story. Reviews appear here once we’ve read them.
Write a review
Reviews come from families with an account. Sign in to share what your child thought.