Kids Sneak Their Self-Published Books Into Little Libraries In Hoboken

HOBOKEN, NJ — Just last month, 8-year-old Dillon Helbig of Idaho made national news after he slid his Christmas book that was "by Dillon His Self" onto his local library's shelves and it inspired a years-long wait list. But apparently, he's not the only young talent with literary dreams.

Last week, one of the volunteers who helps with Hoboken's "Little Free Libraries" noticed that local children had started slipping their own books into the small boxes in local parks.

Kabir Sahu's "The Tallest Building In The World" and Luke Mei's "Super Bird" were there for the borrowing.

Leah Mermelstein, a Hoboken-based literacy consultant who helped start the local Little Library project, said the works were a pleasant surprise.

"As a literacy consultant, my hope always was that the Hoboken Little Free Libraries would ignite an interest and an excitement in both reading and writing," she said.

Mermelstein added, "We welcome all the children in Hoboken to write beautiful and diverse books and donate them for others to read and enjoy." (And if you do, send a photo to Patch so we can highlight your young author's book, too.)

A group of Hoboken moms put together the little libraries a year ago after batting around ideas on social media during the COVID quarantines. READ MORE: Hoboken Women Get Permission To Install 3 'Little Free Libraries'

Since then, more little libraries have been added in Hoboken parks. Some residents also have their own little libraries outside their house or brownstone.

But what happened to Kabir and Luke's oeuvres?

"The books were taken out immediately," Mermelstein said. "Apparently they were a big hit with the children! We haven’t seen any more…we would love to see more kids writing their own books and putting them in the libraries!"

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