Lorielle J. Hollaway

Lorielle J. Hollaway is the founder of Cultured Books Literacy Foundation and the owner and head book pusher at Cultured Books—a multicultural children’s pop-up bookstore in St. Pete, Florida.

She believes that literacy is more than the ability to read and write and is on a mission to create culturally responsive opportunities that nurture a literacy lifestyle. This St. Pete native grew up making memories with books like Peter’s Chair by Ezra Keats and Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold and her love of reading has continued to grow over the years. As a mom of three girls, the importance of building memories through books is personal to Lorielle. Books don’t just change mindsets—they empower children to go farther, and to see more. Books have the power to change lives, and Cultured Books offers a literary haven for families to come together and discover new worlds, different cultures, and great children's literature.

Cultured Books strives to incorporate reading, the arts, community health, culture, and language skills into everything they do—and they do a lot:

Cultured Books—Online and in-person bookstore with a curated collection of titles.

Book Report Project—Fund that allows youth to purchase books using book reports as alternative currency.

Skate. Literacy. Community (SLC)—Friday night event at Campbells Skate Park.

[Breakfast. Literacy. Community. (BLC])(https://www.facebook.com/culturedbooks)—Saturday morning breakfast event on the Deuces.

Read About It—Web series that connects books with experiences in Tampa Bay.

2nd Sunday on the Deuces—Pop-up market with rotating vendors, artists, and guests.

Stories of Specificity (SOS) Podcast—Audio literature that invites different Black voices to tell their story. Launching this year.

Art of Literacy—Pop-up gallery of art created in tandem with reading.

Book Boxes—Curation of book boxes across South St. Pete that are stocked with a rotating selection of uplifting, positive, and relevant titles for kids.

International Children’s Film Series—Monthly film screening event featuring a rotating lineup of international children’s films. On COVID hold.