Palo Alto 5th Grader Builds Little Free Library, Writes Picture Book

PALO ALTO, CA — A lot of people struggled to keep themselves occupied during the pandemic. Not Palo Alto 5th grader Arjun Argawal: he built a library, then wrote a book to put inside.

Last summer, Arjun built a little free library by hand and placed it outside his home, hoping to spread his love and reading and books. The project combined all his interests. “I love reading. I love building. I love art. I realized this even more during COVID,” Arguwal wrote on his website. “Every kid in the world should have access to the gift of reading.”

Credit: Stratford School

His neighborhood agreed, and soon the library was full of books, and people browsing the library. Arjun decided he would add one more. Inspired by Calvin and Hobbes comics, he wrote and illustrated a picture called “Where is The Little Dinosaur,” a spot-the-hidden dinosaur book he published online.

The book is available for sale online, and proceeds will be used to fund the construction of new mini libraries. Arjun is also distributing free copies of the books to schools, and volunteering to build libraries for any neighborhood that requests one.

Arjun’s school, the Stratford School in Palo Alto, hosted a SuperBowl football pool, and donated part of the proceeds to fund Arguwal’s future libraries.

To learn more about Arjun's project, read his book, and donate, visit letsread.fun.