As children left the Coeur d’Alene Boys and Girls Club on Friday afternoon, they found a surprise waiting for them. Tables stood in the entryway, stacked high with glossy, brand-new books. Each child was encouraged to choose a book to take home, free of charge. 

Books for Tots founder Linda Rohlinger and her son, Kyle, watched children’s faces light up as they perused the colorful covers of "Puppy Place," "I Survived" and other bestselling children’s books.

This is the first time Books for Tots, a nonprofit program dedicated to putting new books in the hands of underprivileged children, has served the Boys and Girls Clubs. Books for Tots volunteers were stationed outside the Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls locations Friday afternoon, giving away nearly 500 books.

“They were very excited to be recipients of Books for Tots today,” said branch director of the Coeur d’Alene Boys and Girls Club Ashley Richardson. “When they saw the books, they heard that they were all getting one, they were genuinely so excited.”

This year is the 20th anniversary of Books for Tots, and the organization has come a long way since its inception in 2007. Initially a Christmas fundraiser to distribute books to kids through Toys for Tots, Books for Tots has taken on a life of its own. Now, it organizes multiple book giveaways each year and has gifted more than 136,000 books.

“The gift of reading is very meaningful, and I think that books can open up worlds that kids don’t find anyplace else,” Linda said. “I like to know that kids are getting the opportunity to travel to other lands and expand their minds through what’s written in some of these books.”

Rohlinger was inspired to start a program to give books to kids in need while pregnant with her son, Kyle. She believed it was important to instill in him a love of reading from a young age. Kyle has been an integral part of Books for Tots ever since, and helped his parents sort books as a toddler. Today, he continues to volunteer for Books for Tots alongside his mother, and has maintained his love of reading.

“When my son was a tiny little guy, I read to him when he was in my belly and we’ve always been a big book family,” Linda said.

Linda stepped down as head of Books for Tots three years ago, but remains a board member. Melissa DeMotte, owner of The Well-Read Moose, is now the head of Books for Tots. She acquires books through drives at the Well-Read Moose, community donations and Scholastic’s discount program.

“I just know reading is fundamental in life,” DeMotte said. “They’ll build a lifelong habit of reading.”

She has seen a lot of enthusiasm for Books for Tots from parents and children over the years while overseeing book drives. She enjoys witnessing the community come together to provide books for families in need.

DeMotte hopes to work with the Boys and Girls Club again, and plans to expand Books for Tots’ reach by partnering with other nonprofits in the future. For now, she is looking forward to the next Books for Tots book drive at the Well-Read Moose, which will run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. Books for Tots hopes to raise enough funds to purchase 8,000-10,000 new books each year.

Books for Tots is accepting monetary donations at https://givebutter.com/BooksforTots2026. All funds go directly toward purchasing books for kids in need.

    Linda Rohlinger and her son Kyle give away free books to children outside the Cd'A Boys and Girls Club through Books for Tots.