One Book Read City

Picture of Elliott Smith with Knox County Students

One Book Read City is a community-wide literacy initiative that engages all Knox County elementary school students through captivating events and activities centered on a thoughtfully selected book.

Students follow a reading calendar and participate in a community-wide scavenger hunt for two weeks each May.

One Book aims to enhance reading success and strengthen students' sense of community identity. The program is a true collaborative effort that unites businesses, nonprofits, and schools.

In partnership with Knox County Schools, the Knox Education Foundation, and Knox County Government, One Book Read City creates a unified dialogue surrounding literacy and increases students' exposure to books.

From school and community leaders to librarians and parents and from organizations to valued sponsors—placing the same book into the hands of nearly 30,000 kids in all Knox County Elementary Schools happens with great support to make it a success!

 

 

One Book Read City 2025 was a Home Run!

Knox County Schools students ran the bases reading and engaging with the One Book Read City 2025 book selection Baseball Blowup.

Students listened to celebrity readers share the book, participated in a scavenger hunt, and even met author Elliott Smith (author of this book in the Jake Maddox series) at the Children's Festival of Reading.

We can't wait to announce next year's book selection in May 2026!

Elliott Smith greets a young reader

 

 

Career exploration

In Baseball Blowup, Malcolm combines baseball and science. Check out these sports careers that happen on and off the field. One Book Read City supports Knox County Schools’ mission to empower and prepare students for their future careers.

Sports Announcer
Mark Packer a sports announcer looks out of a press box window

 

Sports Manager
Patrick Ennis General Manager of the Johnson City Doughboys
Head Groundskeeper
Joe Knight Head Groundskeeper for the Knoxville Smokies

 

Sports Producer
Stacia Patterson Sports Producer for the University of Tennessee

 

 

One Book 2025

Baseball Blowup Cover

Baseball Blowup

Part of the Jake Maddox Series by Elliott Smith

30,000 BOOKS DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS

$89,000 BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS

SCAVENGER HUNT PARTICIPANTS - (coming soon)

65 COMMUNITY PARTNERS

300+ BOOKS SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR (IN 3.5 HOURS!)

 

One Book 2024

cartoon of fox with magnifying glass and badger with notebook

Shelby & Watts: Tidepool Troubles

by Ashlyn Anstee

29,000 BOOKS DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS

$80,000 BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS

2,650 SCAVENGER HUNT PARTICIPANTS

65 COMMUNITY PARTNERS

250+ BOOKS SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR (IN 4 HOURS!)

 

One Book 2023

illustration of young girl in science goggles with cat and small green dragon breathing fire

Zoey and Sassafras: Dragons and Marshmallows

by Asia Citro

30,000 BOOKS DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS

$50,000 BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS

2,720 SCAVENGER HUNT PARTICIPANTS

40 COMMUNITY PARTNERS

One Book 2022

image of boy holding a coin and gazing at a box of chocolates that reads The Chocolate Touch

The Chocolate Touch

by Patrick Skene Catling

29,500 BOOKS DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS

$30,000 BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS

30 COMMUNITY PARTNERS

 

 

One Book Read City FAQ

All students K-5th grade in Knox County Elementary Schools. Books are also provided for all school staff so they can join in the book discussions with sutdents

Approximately 33,000 books are purchased and distributed annually to support One Book Read City. The cost per book is around $2.50, which means approximately $75,000 is spent on books alone. Additional donations of funds, prizes, or in-kind gifts enrich this literacy initiative through the two-week period.

This fun-filled community-wide event will not add to teacher workload. It provides engaging activities that support classroom reading. Teachers from each school participate in a quarterly information meeting where they share ideas and resources for the district. All teachers are provided with a website of lessons, videos, and activities for their students.

Multiple community events happen during the two-week period of One Book Read City festivities including celebrity guest videos, education activities, career exploration videos, and a community-wide scavenger hunt. All culminating with the Knox County Public Library's Children's Festival of Reading.

One Book Read City is only successful through community support. Individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations are welcome to provide in-kind contributions, donate prizes, and give financial support. Contact the Knox Education Foundation to discuss sponsorship and partnership opportuniites.

One Book Read City Founding Partners

knox county tennessee logo
Knox County Schools
Knox Education Foundation
read city usa - knox county tennessee logo

About Read City USA

Led by Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, READ CITY USA is a collaborative initiative of Knox County Government, Knox County Public Library, Knox County Schools, and other community organizations to help all children learn to read early and well, thereby reaching their full potential in school and in life.

Read City USA programs include One Book Read City, Explorer Pass, and a host of community-wide reading challenges. Together, Read City participants have read millions of hours, modeling literacy and reading for pleasure as priorities in Knox County. Read more about the current Read City USA challenge.