Cocky's Reading Express

Cocky's Reading Express Cocky’s Reading Express is USC's award-winning literacy outreach program. Our priority is reaching students in underserved public schools.

Cocky's Reading Express is the University of South Carolina's literacy outreach program. USC students travel the state with their friend, Cocky, visiting elementary schools across South Carolina. The students read to the children, and Cocky helps the children understand the importance of life-long reading. The program primarily serves students in 4K through second grade because research shows that

if children acquire strong reading skills and a love of reading by the third grade they are more likely to succeed academically and graduate on time. All the children are given books to take home, reminders of their visit from Cocky and the USC students. The USC students know they are making reading fun - one Gamecock at a time. Cocky's Reading Express is 100% funded by grants and gifts. Some of our funders include: BP America, Boeing, SCE&G, Colonial LIfe, BB&T, Nelson Mullins, and Central Carolina Community Foundation.

Happy first day of class, Gamecocks! We can't wait to read with you soon!
08/18/2026

Happy first day of class, Gamecocks! We can't wait to read with you soon!

Happy Little Free Library Day!
05/17/2026

Happy Little Free Library Day!

Today we're kicking off Little Free Library Week with National Little Free Library Day! 🎉

Celebrate with us: https://lflib.org/lfl-week

The secret is finally out! Meet Walker and Emma, the USC students behind the feathers of our book-loving gamecock. 🐔❤️To...
05/10/2026

The secret is finally out! Meet Walker and Emma, the USC students behind the feathers of our book-loving gamecock. 🐔❤️

Together, they’ve helped put over 50,000 books into the hands of students across South Carolina, bringing joy, energy, and a love of reading to thousands of children along the way.

Thank you both for your incredible commitment to childhood literacy. We are so proud of everything you’ve accomplished and cannot wait to see where life takes you next.

Congratulations, Cockys!

official reveal 📸 by University of South Carolina
fan 📸 by CRE

05/08/2026

The very best!! 🤙🐔

05/08/2026

Congratulations, Walker!! 🤙🐔

This year, we had too many Service All-Stars to fit in one photo! ⭐These ten incredible volunteers each gave more than 2...
04/30/2026

This year, we had too many Service All-Stars to fit in one photo! ⭐

These ten incredible volunteers each gave more than 20 hours of service through Cocky’s Reading Express this school year.

Thank you Faith, Briana, Nauria, Cooper, Zakoya, Evelyn, Angelina, Alyssa, Olivia, and Sean for helping us get new books into the hands of students across South Carolina.

Phew! Cocky just tallied up our 2025–2026 school year totals, and what a year it’s been! 🤙 Thank you to everyone who hel...
04/27/2026

Phew! Cocky just tallied up our 2025–2026 school year totals, and what a year it’s been! 🤙

Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen. Together, we’re building home libraries and growing readers across South Carolina. ❤️

We’re so grateful to We Are Boeing SC for making this semester possible.Because of their commitment to inspiring the nex...
04/22/2026

We’re so grateful to We Are Boeing SC for making this semester possible.

Because of their commitment to inspiring the next generation of innovators and explorers, we were able to encourage students across Charleston County School District to dream big.

Together, we reached more than 3,200 students at 7 Title I elementary schools and placed over 6,200 books into the hands of young readers.

And we’re just getting started. We’ll be back next semester to reach even more students!

Thank you, Boeing, for helping us expand access to high-quality books and spark a lifelong love of reading and learning. ✨

We saved one of our best (and biggest!) for last 🤙.We closed out the school year with so much joy at Whitesville Element...
04/20/2026

We saved one of our best (and biggest!) for last 🤙.

We closed out the school year with so much joy at Whitesville Elementary. Big energy, silly stories, and over 1,000 brand new books heading home with young readers. It was a perfect ending to an unforgettable school year!

Fun fact: bees dance to communicate.Also a fact: so do we. 🐝We had a blast dancing, reading, and picking out books with ...
04/17/2026

Fun fact: bees dance to communicate.
Also a fact: so do we. 🐝

We had a blast dancing, reading, and picking out books with our new friends at North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary. Thank you to our partners at We Are Boeing SC and Little Free Library for making this work possible.

Address

1430 Senate Street
Columbia, SC
29201

Telephone

+18037772169

Website

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