5 things to know about reading resources in greater Riverdale

Testing results from the New York State Education Department have put renewed attention on student reading proficiency in the state.

Preliminary results from the 2026 state English Language Arts exams showed 48 percent of students in grades 3 through 8 statewide scored proficient, down from 53 percent in preliminary results the year before. The declines were particularly pronounced among younger students.

But families looking to encourage reading outside the classroom do not necessarily have to travel far or spend money. The Riverdale area has several ways for children to find something to read — along with programs designed to help strengthen their skills.

Here are five resources to know.

Little free libraries

Unlike a traditional library, a little free library does not require a card, set hours or even a trip indoors.

The small book-sharing boxes allow neighbors to take a book or leave one behind, making reading material available at any time. Visit littlefreelibrary.org to view a map of registered boxes nearby.

Greater Riverdale has several of the little libraries, including one on the front lawn of Riverdale Neighborhood House, located at 5521 Mosholu Ave. The location is particularly fitting — Riverdale Neighborhood House traces its beginnings to a community lending library started in the 1870s. Other book-sharing boxes can be found around the neighborhood, including near West 231st Street and Netherland Avenue and around Giles Place and Cannon Place.

Readers are encouraged to take a book that interests them and, when possible, leave another for the next person who stops by.

NYC Reads

Reading support does not have to end when students leave school. The city’s department of education offers families a collection of free online literacy activities through NYC Reads, the school system’s initiative for research-based reading instruction. The resources are intended to reinforce many of the same skills students work on in the classroom, including phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.

Among the materials are printable flashcards that help younger readers practice vowel and consonant sounds, digraphs and other foundational skills. Interactive versions include audio so children can hear sounds and related words, and directions are offered in multiple languages.

Families can also find reading-discussion activities, suggested book lists and simple exercises that incorporate literacy into everyday routines. New York City public school students additionally have access to thousands of free e-books and audiobooks through Sora, a digital reading platform. Students can access Sora’s library using their school credentials at soraapp.com.

Snag a library card

The New York Public Library remains one of the most extensive free reading resources available to local families. Anyone who lives, works, attends school or pays property taxes in New York state can qualify for an NYPL card, which can be requested online or at a branch.

Locally, families can visit branches including the Riverdale Library at 5540 Mosholu Ave.; Kingsbridge Library at 291 W. 231st St.; Spuyten Duyvil Library at 650 W. 235th St. and Van Cortlandt Library at 3882 Cannon Place.

Beyond borrowing books, the system offers storytimes, book discussions, reading recommendations and programs for children and teens. Kingsbridge Library also offers NYPL After School, a free drop-in program for children ages 6 to 12 that includes homework assistance and reading recommendations.

For younger readers, storytimes mix books with songs and rhymes, while other programs give children opportunities to read with librarians and talk about books in a less formal setting.

Books x Bodegas

Books can also be found in a less conventional place — alongside snacks, drinks and household staples at local bodegas.

Books x Bodegas was started by Spuyten Duyvil residents Suzanne Likeness and Primo Cidi to make free books available in spaces people already visit as part of their daily routines. What began with a single shelf in late 2025 has since expanded to multiple Bronx locations, including stores along Bailey Avenue.

There is no checkout process. Customers can pick up a book, read while they wait or take one home, and books circulate through donations and returns from other readers.

With locations at places such as Johnson Deli, at 561 W. 235th St., the idea is to put reading materials somewhere people may encounter them without having planned a trip specifically to find a book.

Free one-on-one tutoring

For students who need more than additional reading material, a NYPL card also provides access to free academic help.

Through Brainfuse, students from early elementary school through high school can connect online with one-on-one tutors daily from 2 to 11 p.m. Tutors are available in English, Spanish and French and can help with reading and writing assignments as well as math, science, social studies and other subjects.

Students can also submit writing for feedback, ask homework questions and access videos and other learning tools outside the live tutoring hours.

That makes the service different from simply putting another book in a student’s hands. For a child struggling with comprehension, an essay or another reading assignment, it offers someone who can help work through the problem with them. Visit nypl.org/education/kids for more information.