Shrewsbury Borough Kids Can Receive Free Book Each Month: Here’s How

SHREWSBURY, NJ — The Friends of Shrewsbury are helping borough youth develop an early love of reading through a new program.

In partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, this program will allow every child under the age of five years old in Shrewsbury Borough to receive a free, age-appropriate book to read each month, officials said.

To receive these books, children must be registered with the program. Registration can be completed online here.

“The tried-and-true way to foster a love of reading in a child is by reading to them regularly starting at an early age,” said Jaclyn Woehnker, a member of the Friends of Shrewsbury Board of Trustees.

According to Friends of Shrewsbury officials, developing an early love of reading in children provides “tangible academic benefits and lifelong personal rewards,” as data shows that children who read for fun regularly perform better academically and have more confidence, motivation and perseverance.

This matter is particularly relevant now, following recent studies which showed that only 38% of eighth graders in NJ can read at grade level, officials said. This represents a four-point drop since 2022.

Equally concerning is that only 73% of eighth graders in New Jersey can read above “basic level,” officials said, six points lower than in 2003.

“The goal of this program is simple: to do our part locally to reverse this statistical trend and lay a strong, early foundation for our children to succeed academically and in life by becoming readers,” said Jason Sena, a member of the Friends of Shrewsbury Board of Trustees.

To learn more about this program or register your child, you can click here.

The Friends of Shrewsbury is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by parents in town to support public programming in Shrewsbury Borough, such as enhancing public parks and community spaces, and promoting civic pride in the town.

The Friends' first funding projects are the Shrewsbury Centennial Celebration in May 2026 and its partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

Through fundraising events, local improvement projects, and community partnerships, the nonprofit works to keep Shrewsbury a beautiful, welcoming place to live.