The Busload of Books Tour was a year-long project to promote literacy and raise awareness of the challenges facing our nation’s public schools.

Author/illustrator duo Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr (that’s us) and our four kids spent the 2022-2023 school year traveling the country in a school bus/tiny home, visiting Title I schools in all 50 states (plus DC), and giving away 25,000 hardcover books to students and teachers from underserved communities.

Along the way, we conducted a major research project on the impact of author/illustrator visits, met hundreds of inspiring educators, and invited our followers to join us on a yearlong exploration of our country’s unsung wonders and off-the-beaten path communities.

As we traveled, we posted stories and pictures and videos every day to social media. Check out what the ultimate road trip adventure was like!