Cultured Books Literacy Foundation

Poetry, art, conversation and connection...that is culture. When you add children's books that help non white children to empower themselves by seeing themselves represented in books you get cultured books!

I love cultured books! Every time I visit I’m greeted with the warmest smiles, the kindest hearts, and the best selection of children’s books. cultured books helps me to ensure that the children in my life grow up reading stories that reflect the true diversity of our world. The beautiful books there are for all children.

Cultured Books has benefited the youth in our community so much! As a child, I had maybe two books with characters that looks like me (black and brown). Cultured books create an atmosphere that we belong, that we can achieve anything we want because we are illustrated in the books she sells! Children now has the opportunity to not only learn about themselves but other "minority" cultures. If I could give a ten star rating, I could because what Cultured Books provides is more than extraordinary!

As a librarian and mom, I understand the importance of exposing children to books that provide mirrors (characters who reflect ourselves) and doors (characters who are different, from whom we can learn). This is why cultured books is so good for St Pete. Several months ago, I attended a book signing for a former student at cultured books. I met and spoke with the owner, who was a kind and warm reading enthusiast. She even generously provided me with books for my Little Free Library. What a credit to the community. Thank you!

A black owned bookstore for us by us! Yes sir, this is well needed, even in 2020. As a black mother of three children I know the importance of representation. It starts young. To have the ability to take my children to this amazing bookstore and walk around and see themselves represented on the bookshelf is worth the drive from Tampa to St Pete in my opinion. Run, don’t walk to support this amazing black owned business.

Had a wonderful experience purchasing books online through cultured books! Found so many titles I was looking for (and more, their curated lists are amazing!) and even though a few were backstocked, they shipped quickly. I don’t live locally but was able to chat with the owner, Lorielle, over the phone and she is a joy! She is passionate about her bookstore and cares about the community it is in. She has an amazing program called The Book Report Project for kids and I am excited to see it get bigger! Can’t wait to visit one day!

Owner was very responsive and helpful in curating a package of books for my local school media center to increase diversity of characters and experiences in their literature. The book report project is a genius idea to promote literacy! How lucky we are to have this gem in our community!