OUR MISSION
Connecting Washington, DC-area students with authors, illustrators, and their books to build equitable access and nurture a lifelong love of reading.
Maria Gianferrari • Hawk Rising • Whetstone Elementary School
OUR VISION: Children see themselves as readers, who use their written and visual literacy skills to navigate a complex world and define their own future.
An Open Book was created to provide access to books, authors, and illustrators. AOB’s programs offer students in qualifying schools the opportunity to connect with authors, illustrators, and their books. Students receive their own signed copy of the featured book to add to their home libraries. Studies confirmed that growing up with home libraries boosts adult skills in literacy, numeracy and technological problem solving.
Some of our programs provide breadth—every year, our Flagship Program offers upwards of 10,000 students the opportunity to meet and interact with an author and/or illustrator. Some of our programs provide depth—an opportunity for students, teachers, and authors/illustrators to further explore a particular aspect of a book or a component of the writing or illustration process.
These personal connections are inspiring the next generation of storytellers.
PROGRAM FORMAT
Engaging School Visits
Preschoolers laughing uproariously as a visiting author regales them with her latest picture book. Elementary school students watching, rapt as an illustrator brings to life a character from his graphic novels. Middle school students working with an award-winning author in a writers’ workshop. High school students discussing with an author their experiences with peer pressure as compared to those of the characters in the book they just received.
Book Signings
A student shyly walks up to the table where the author or illustrator is waiting, sharing their name and engaging in a short conversation. Sometimes it’s just to smile and say hello, but other times there’s more to say—a connection with the presentation or workshop, or the observation that book creators are “just like us!”
Meaningful Conversations
A group of high school students sits in a relaxed and informal setting with an author. No technology, no elaborate presentation, but an honest discussion about current issues covered in the book students receive—identity, social justice, poverty, immigration, family dynamics. Being seen can make a difference.
New and Emerging Artists of Color
Our program for new and emerging authors and illustrators of color amplifies the creative voices of Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color authors/illustrators. It provides additional opportunities for the students we serve to see themselves, not only in books but also in the creators of these works. We offer a small stipend (and will cover travel expenses when we return to in-person visits) to debut authors and illustrators, acknowledging the very real financial constraints on emerging artists in the field of children’s literature.
Extension Activities
Students dig into their school gardens as they pick, prune, and plant alongside author Tony Hillery. Hillery shares his story, Harlem Grown, and tips based on his experience developing school gardens in NYC. Led by nonprofit partner FRESHFARM FoodPrints, students taste a variety of fruits and vegetables to compare flavors, discuss optimal growing conditions, and decide on their favorites. An Open Book partners with area nonprofits on selected events for a creative, connected activity that deepens learning.`
Artist-in-Residence
Equipped with a fresh set of paints, brushes, scissors, glue sticks, and a journal, students discuss personal narratives with author-illustrator Cozbi Cabrera. Using her books Me & Mama and My Hair is a Garden as case studies, they experiment with tertiary colors, painting, cutting, and pasting to create a collage that says “this is me.” Exploring composition to create interest, clarity, and tension, their final pieces are paired with others to create a collaborative class “quilt.”
STEM Residence
How can we protect wildlife in our increasingly congested world? Author Heather Montgomery encourages students to think creatively and design highway crossings using a selection of materials they each received from AOB. Straws, tape, rulers, paper, blocks, and putty become bridges with lanes, signals, and native foliage to support safe crossing for all sorts of creatures. Using Montgomery’s book, Something Rotten: a Fresh Look at Road Kill for primary research, students record their findings in a scientific journal as they test various methods and designs.
OUR EVENTS
Our events reach kids in PreK through Grade 12. Here’s a sample. To stay up-to-date, follow us on social media.
ANNIE HUNTER ERIKSEN AT LASALLE BACKUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Written by a long-time Marvel fan, With Great Power: The Marvelous Stan Lee—the ultimate origin story. “What makes a hero?”
JOHNETTA COLE AND NELDA LATEEF AT ROSA PARKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Students read along with the author and illustrator through African Proverbs for All Ages, sharing opinions as they match proverbs with artwork.
KIMBERLEY JONES AND GILLY SEGAL AT MCKINLEY TECH HIGH SCHOOL
A thoughtful discussion of the real-life events that inspired Why We Fly, and writing advice from co-authors who share their process.
TYLER GORDON AT IDA B WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Part book talk, part art lesson, author Tyler Gordon shares his practice and inspiration for the images in We Can: Portraits of Power.
NONIEQA RAMOS AT RAYMOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Sharing personal experiences and celebrating what we love about ourselves as second graders learn more about Hair Story.
COZBI CABRERA AT WHITTIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
After reading Me & Mama and My Hair is a Garden, students paint, collage, and create a classroom quilt during an Artist-in-Residence workshop.
SINCE 2011…
STUDENTS REACHED
SCHOOLS & INSTITUTIONS VISITED
AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR PRESENTATIONS
BOOKS DONATED
OUR IMPACT
An Open Book visits DC-area schools where, on average, 85% of the students quality for free and reduced meals. Since 2011, we have reached nearly 80,000 students, organized 1,900+ presentations, and donated more than 93,000 books.
The generous authors and illustrators who donate their time and talent, and the publishers and literary agents who support their efforts, remain the backbone of An Open Book Foundation’s event program. The connections authors and illustrators make with students lie at the heart of an AOB event. They not only share their books with students, they often share their personal stories and their individual journeys – providing a glimpse into possible career paths.
Participating Authors and Illustrators
An Open Book Foundation works with each author and illustrator to tailor each event; past presentations have included writing workshops, science demonstrations, work with primary sources, reading and Q&A, and art projects. Authors and illustrators who’ve participated in our program routinely describe their experience as impactful and meaningful.
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- 84% of educators could tie a flagship event directly to their classroom curriculum
- 100% of our artist-in-residence programs sparked new ideas and conversations among students
- 64% of students are more curious about a career as an author or publisher
- 50% are more interested in reading their new book after meeting the author or illustrator
LITERACY PARTNERS
Essential to the success of An Open Book Foundation are the dedicated educators and administrators at the schools we visit and the authors and illustrators who participate in our events.
Hannah Barnaby • Garcia & Collette Go Exploring • Mary Harris Mother Jones Elementary School
Combining all our efforts, we look to inspire the quiet kid in the back who always thought she might have a story inside of her, but was never brave enough to believe it. Or the struggling student who finds math and English a challenge but thrives in art and needed to see where that might take him. Perhaps connecting with an immigrant student who truly benefits from seeing someone who understands what they are going through. Finally, connecting with so, so many children and teens through quiet little conversations that happen during book signings.
“I really liked being able to talk to an author who has published and is still writing. It helped me to see more what a future as an author would be like...”HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
“Thank YOU and the foundation for bringing me to such awesome schools. You guys have such a unique ability to remind us authors/illustrators what making books and sharing books is all about.”RUTH CHAN
AUTHOR - ILLUSTRATOR
“I know they will treasure their books for years to come. I wish you could have seen the excitement at dismissal! Personally, this event was a highlight of my teaching career.”2ND GRADE TEACHER
“It was almost like you could see the wheels turning in some of their heads as they thought about the fact that 'someone just like them was a real author.' Not only did it get them interested in reading the book, it made them realize that writing is possible too. I am excited to let you know that every single one of my students asked me if we could start reading the book on Monday. I have never had this level of excitement over reading a book before.“MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER
SUPPORT AN OPEN BOOK FOUNDATION
An Open Book Foundation depends on the generosity of donors of all types. We gratefully accept donations of any size.
An Open Book Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Jarrett Krosoczka • Hey, Kiddo • Theodore Roosevelt High School
Your contribution will have a direct, meaningful impact on the literacy of a child. Whether you donate $30 to purchase beautiful new hardcover books for 3 PreK students, $100 to cover the cost of a set of books for the school library, or $1,000 to fund books for an entire grade level, you donation furthers the number of students we can reach.
Since 2016, An Open Book Foundation has been recognized by The Catalog for Philanthropy as “one of the best small charities in the Greater Washington region.”
To donate by check, mail your donation to:
An Open Book Foundation
508 Kennedy St. NW, Suite 309
Washington, D.C. 20011
To donate stock, please follow these instructions
To donate online, visit our donation page
Legacy Gifts to An Open Book Foundation
Your donations today make a difference in the lives of the students we serve by providing funding for our current in-class programming and book purchases. The sustainability of An Open Book Foundation (“AOB”) for future DC-area students is equally important to us.
To that end, we gratefully accept donations to help us grow and strengthen the organization for the future, to ensure that the work of AOB will continue to make a significant mark on the children we serve by nurturing a lifelong love of reading. You can amplify your impact by including An Open Book Foundation in your estate planning.
Support from corporate and foundation donors is critical to the ongoing success of An Open Book. Our programs are for low-income children from early childhood through high school. While all of our events promote literacy, they also address specific curricular goals including ELL, S.T.E.M., Common Core, and fine arts.
Given the variety and number of An Open Book events, we are happy to match an event(s) with your philanthropic goals. If your staff is interested in seeing the work we do, contact us about attending an event by sending an email to info@anopenbookfound.org.
Grants
An Open Book’s funding sources include grants from local government, corporate and family foundations, public charities, and individual donors.
Bookplates
AOB places a printed bookplate label in every book a student receives. For individual, corporate and foundation donations of $5,000 or more, An Open Book will create custom bookplates with your name or logo to include in the books you’ve helped support.
ABOUT AN OPEN BOOK
Meg Medina • Merci Suárez Changes Gears • Takoma Education Campus
OUR STORY
An Open Book was founded in 2010 by former children’s booksellers Dara La Porte and Heidi Powell. After years of hosting author events for and recommending books to young neighborhood customers, they continued to struggle with the fact that the vast majority of local students were unable to attend the store’s author events or purchase the books.
After receiving unanimous encouragement from teachers, librarians, authors, illustrators and publishers Dara and Heidi used that positive energy to create An Open Book and begin to take authors into qualifying schools. By the end of 2011, they had hosted 11 events and given away more than 1,000 books to students and libraries.
CONTACT AN OPEN BOOK
Whether you’d like to join our newsletter mailing list, sign up to have An Open Book visit your school, or would like to talk about a nonprofit partnership, we’d love to hear from you.
CONTACT INFO
508 Kennedy St. NW, Suite 309
Washington, D.C. 20011
Phone: 202 686 7115
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