Sophia tries to find out what each child enjoys reading. (Facebook/Sophia's book stand) When Sophia Parekh was seven, she noticed that not every child had the same access to books. It was during the Covid pandemic, when many families were struggling financially, and buying books was not always possible. Sophia, who loved reading, decided to do something about it. She started collecting books and giving them away to children who needed them. Five years later, the 12-year-old from Westfield, New Jersey, has distributed more than 8,000 free books across the United States through her initiative, Sophia's Book Stand.What makes her project different is that she does not simply collect books and send them to families. She tries to find out what each child enjoys reading and chooses books accordingly. The little girl's aim is to make sure children receive something they would actually like to read.The initiative has grown beyond individual families. Sophia now also helps teachers obtain books for classrooms in underserved schools and works with organisations that support families in need. Her efforts have earned her recognition as a runner-up for the 2026 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. Idea becomes nationwide project According to the official website of Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, Sophia introduced an online request form where parents could provide their children's ages, interests, and addresses.The project distributes free books in like-new condition, allowing families to receive reading material without having to purchase it.Sophia explained the process during an event listed by the Rotary Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains earlier this month.“People fill out an online form where they put what their age is, and they also put their address, so we know where to send the books to. They put some of their interests so that we can try to find a book that they like,” she said.The same arrangement is available to teachers who need books for their classrooms. They can submit requests, allowing Sophia to select material suitable for their students.As requests increased, Sophia began working with other organisations to reach more children. These include the Moms Helping Moms Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Newark.The partnerships have helped her connect with families beyond Westfield. Other organisations also distribute books, allowing the initiative to support children in different communities. Help from school, well-known authors Sophia has received support from her local community, including Franklin Elementary School in Westfield. Her mother, Nipa Parekh, said the school holds a book collection drive during its annual community service night.“We do a big book drive with them through their community service night every year, which also brings in a ton of books,” Nipa said, as quoted by the Rotary Club.The project received wider attention about a year after it began, when Sophia appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show. The television appearance brought contributions from Disney and several well-known authors.That support has continued since. During the October Rotary Club event, Sophia said she was working with author Mary Pope Osborne, who was interested in donating books.By that time, Sophia's Book Stand had more than 1,000 books ready to distribute, following recent donation drives and contributions from authors.However, the project still needs certain kinds of books. Spanish-language books, bilingual titles and books representing diverse backgrounds are particularly sought after because teachers frequently request them for their classrooms.Financial contributions are also important. While donated books provide the reading material, money helps cover the cost of getting them to children, teachers and organisations. “The monetary donations really help to get the books to kids that are requesting books, as well as teachers and organizations,” Nipa said. Reaching children who cannot request online Although Sophia's Book Stand has distributed thousands of books, the online request system presents a challenge for some families. Those living in low-income communities without reliable internet access may find it difficult to complete the form.Sophia and her family hope to make the project accessible to these families as well. She has also expressed interest in taking the initiative beyond the United States so that children in other countries can receive books.Established in 2001 by author T A Barron, the prize honours 25 young people aged eight to 18 each year for their contributions to communities and the environment.Among this year's winners are Alexander Du, 17, from Pennsylvania, who developed a low-cost AI-powered navigation device for visually impaired people. Ameya Kharade, 17, from New Hampshire, created a system that converts brain activity into speech without surgery. Another winner, Isaac Nelson, 13, from Florida, was recognised for his efforts to restore coastal habitats, including mangroves and marine life.