AN OPEN BOOK FOUNDATION IS HONORED TO HAVE BEEN NAMED A 2023
LITERACY AWARD HONOREE
Over the past 14 years we’ve witnessed the impact that an author or illustrator visit can have on a student, and the power of receiving a signed book to keep. It’s so gratifying to be part of a community that understands and celebrates reading through equitable access to books and to the authors and illustrators who create them.
OUR MISSION
An Open Book Foundation connects Washington DC-area students with authors, illustrators, and their books to nurture a lifelong love of reading.
We support educational justice by building equitable access to interactive literacy enrichment and high-quality books.
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 students in PreK through Grade 12. Here’s a sample. To stay up-to-date, follow us on social media.
HEATHER MCGHEE AT IDA B. WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Students listened to stories from The Sum of Us and talked about the importance of economic, racial, and social justice.
NICK BROOKS AT H.D. WOODSON HIGH SCHOOL AND EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL
Students were all ears during Brooks’ interactive talk about Promise Boys.
JACQUELINE WOODSON WITH HOUSTON AND CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
AOB, along with 1st, 2nd, & 3rd graders took a field trip to the Kennedy Center to witness the debut of the commissioned musical, The Day You Begin.
HEATHER MONTGOMERY AT JOHN BURROUGHS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Over the course of a three-day STEM Residence, students engaged in hands-on activities inspired by Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill, building model bridges to transport wildlife.
ISABEL ROXAS AT TWINBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Students created their own characters and stories in a two day comics workshop inspired by The Adventures of Team Pom: Squid Happens.
MEG MEDINA AND ALEXIS ROMAY WITH THOMSON AND BANCROFT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
In partnership with Planet Word, students visited the museum to learn about translanguage, language acquisition, empathy, and idioms. The featured book: Merci Suarez Changes Gears.
SINCE 2011…
STUDENTS REACHED
SCHOOLS & INSTITUTIONS VISITED
AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR PRESENTATIONS
BOOKS DONATED
OUR IMPACT
An Open Book visits DC-area Title 1 schools. Since 2011, we have reached over 100,000 students, organized 2,500+ presentations, and donated more than 120,000 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
- 65% will read the new book they received “right away” or “soon”
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.
FOR AUTHORS, ILLUSTRATORS AND PUBLISHERS
AOB’s guests include a mix of award-winning authors and illustrators. Our New and Emerging Artists of Color Program amplifies new voices in children’s and teen literature. Representation is important, and each year, between 65-70% of the book creators we bring into classrooms are authors and illustrators of color.
Publishers and their authors/illustrators often add an AOB event onto a DC tour so that the publisher incurs very little added expense. In addition to increased author and illustrator visibility, AOB book purchases lead to increased sales. However, publisher donations are always welcome.
The following authors and illustrators joined AOB in the 2022-23 school year.
A.S. King
Adriana Bergstrom
Aixa Pérez-Prado
Alan Gratz
Alexa Laurel Patrick
Alexis Romay
Ali Kamanda
Alina Chau
Alison Goldberg
Alison Green Myers
Andrea Menotti
Andrea Rogers
Angeline Boulley
April Harrison
Brent Schoonover
C.C. Harrington
Carole Boston Weatherford
Carole Lindstrom
Caroline Brewer
Caron Levis
Chad Sell
Chana Stiefel
Christian Robinson
Christina Soontornvat
Christy Hale
Claribel Ortega
Costantia Manoli
Cozbi A. Cabrera
Dan Gemeinhart
Daniel Bernstrom
David Barclay Moore
David LaRochelle
David Obuchowski
Debbi Michiko Florence
Des Cooper
Elizabeth-Irene Baitie
Emeline Lee
Erica Perl
Erminia
Faith Erin Hicks
Felicia Hoshino
Frantzy Luzincourt
Gaia Cornwall
Gale Galligan
Harold Green III
Heather McGhee
Heather Montgomery
Hena Khan
Ibtihaj Muhammad
Isabel Roxas
Ishita Jain
Jack Wong
Jacqueline Woodson
Jamar Nicholas
James Ponti
James Smith
Jane Park
Jeanette Bradley
Jerdine Nolen
Jerry Craft
John Parra
Jonathan Hill
Jonathan Roth
Jorge Redmond
Joy Jones
Juana Medina
Julia Kuo
June Smalls
Justin Reynolds
Karina González
Katherine Applegate
Katherine Marsh
Katie Yamasaki
Katie Zhao
Keila Dawson
Kelly McWilliams
Ken Daley
Kim Taylor
Krystal Quiles
Kwame Mbalia
Lamar Giles
Laura Freeman
Laura Gehl
Lauren Castillo
Linda Sarsour
Lindsay Metcalf
Liza Wiemer
Lulu Delacre
Lydia Lukidis
M.T. Anderson
Mac Barnett
María Teresa Santiago Álvarez
Marilyn Nelson
Mary Quattlebaum
Meg Medina
Melina Bellows
Michael Long
Michelle Edwards
Mika Song
Mike Curato
Misa Sugiura
Naaz Khan
Nathan Hale
Nick Brooks
Nick Bruel
Ofosu Jones-Quartey
Patricia Park
Paula Shelton
Raakhee Mirchandani
Rose Bousamra
S.R.P.
Saadia Faruqi
Sadé Smith
Safia Elhillo
Samantha Berger
Sara Shepard
Sarah Pedry
Shadra Strickland
Sherri Duskey Rinker
Shreya Gupta
Sue Fliess
Suma Subramaniam
Susan Katz
Susan Stockdale
Susan Verde
Susie Jaramillo
Sylvia Liu
Tami Charles
Terry Catasús Jennings
Tiffany D. Jackson
Tom Angleberger
Tommy Greenwald
Traci Sorell
Useni Perkins
Vashti Harrison
Wendy Shang
Winsome Bingham
Yancey Labat
Ying-Hwa Hu
Yohuru Williams
Young Vo
Ysaÿe Barnwell
“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 Spur Local as “one of the best small charities in the Greater Washington region.”
To donate online, visit our donation page.
To donate by check, mail your donation to:
An Open Book Foundation
508 Kennedy St. NW, Suite 309
Washington, D.C. 20011
To donate through your Donor Advised Fund, please contact your financial advisor or use DAF Direct.
To donate stock, please follow these instructions.
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 support equitable access to literacy, arts and humanities programs for students in low-income communities 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 [email protected].
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.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Carolyn Vinson Bou
Carolyn Vinson Bou is Counsel in the Tax and Wealth Planning Group at Venable LLP, specializing in estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning and wealth preservation strategies. Carolyn has chaired planned giving committees at the Washington National Cathedral and the National Cathedral School (“NCS”), is a former board member at NCS and also co-chaired its last capital campaign. A mother of three, Carolyn is passionate about improving literacy in the District of Columbia.
Michelle Edwards, EdD
Michelle Edwards is a native Chicagoan who found her way to Live It Learn It by serving as the principal of Orr Elementary for almost a decade. Michelle has also served on the board of Live It Learn It for over five years. She received a B.S. in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University and Master’s degrees from Loyola University Chicago and Trinity University, Washington, DC. Michelle participated in New Leaders, Inc. as a resident principal during its inaugural year in Washington DC and 10 years later served as the Director of the Emerging Leaders Program. She recently earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Organizational Management from the University of Pennsylvania.
Hope Harrod
Hope Harrod has been a 4th and 5th grade teacher in DC Public Schools for 15 years. She has a Master’s in Education from Boston College. In the 2012-13 school year, she received DC’s highest teaching honors, the Excellence in Teaching Award and Teacher of the Year. She currently serves on the boards of An Open Book Foundation and Live it Learn it, a non-profit, also in DC. She is also a trustee at Kenyon College.
Deborah Litt, PhD
Deborah Litt is an independent consultant providing professional development in literacy instruction. In 2016 she retired from Trinity University in Washington, DC after teaching there for more than thirteen years. She received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (Reading) from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2003. Prior to that she worked for nine years as a Reading Specialist in Title 1 schools in Prince George’s County, MD.
Deep Master
As a tax manager at the Han Group, Deep Master helps run the non-profit practice at his firm. Deep has expertise working with non-profit organizations such as hospitals, healthcare organizations, public charities, private foundations, social welfare organizations, trade associations, private schools, and affordable housing organizations. Deep has taught courses related to Form 990 compliance, lobbying, and compensation issues for tax-exempt organizations. Deep has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Taxation, both from American University where he also competed on the Division 1 varsity swim team. Deep has served as a volunteer for Mission for Vision Foundation USA and is currently a champion board member at Pool and Hot Tub Alliance.
Drew Ades
Drew is a senior advisor to RMI’s Climate-Aligned Finance Program and the Carbon-Free Buildings Program, where he uses his extensive real estate, finance, and executive experience to help RMI create and equitable, just, and climate-aligned real estate finance industry and decarbonize the building stock.
Prior to joining RMI, Drew was part of the Leadership team of the Multifamily Lending Platform at Capitol One. Drew was also the founding president and CEO of the Housing Partnership Equity Trust (HPET), a private REIT focused on the acquisition and preservation of affordable and workforce housing properties. He previously served as co-president of CAM LLC, a wholly owned real estate operating company subsidiary of Fannie Mae. Prior to this, Drew served in various management positions within Fannie Mae’s multifamily business and was the visionary behind the creation of Fannie Mae’s Multifamily Green Lending Program. He holds a BA from Williams College and an MBA from UC, Berkeley.
Deb Shapiro
A former journalist and bookseller with an MA in children’s literature, Deb Shapiro worked for more than twelve years in book publishing, creating and executing publicity and marketing campaigns for publishing houses large and small before launching her own company in 2011. She is also an instructor at the Columbia School of Journalism’s graduate publishing course, and an active volunteer with several literacy organizations. For more than a decade she traveled extensively on book tours, fostering relationships with booksellers, educators, and media throughout the country and developing a broad understanding of what readers of all ages respond to and are interested in. She lives in Washington, DC with her daughter.
Alissa Platz
Alissa Platz is currently the Stewardship Manager at Conservation International. She is a fundraising and communications professional with a passion for creative storytelling and strategy development. In August 2023, Alissa completed her Master’s degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies. She has previously worked in fundraising and community engagement roles for nonprofits across Washington, DC. She is an active member of the Washington, DC Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP DC) and regularly volunteers with Washington Improv Theater. Outside of being a fundraiser, Alissa enjoys doing improvisational comedy and going to concerts around the city. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from American University in International Studies and Spanish.
STAFF
Heidi W. Powell • Executive Director
Before joining An Open Book full time in 2017, Heidi managed the children and teens department at a large independent bookstore. Heidi participated on several American Booksellers Association panels on coordinating book fairs with local schools. Heidi has worked as a city planner at the national, state and local levels. She holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from UNC Chapel Hill, a B.A. from UC Berkeley, and enthusiastically recommends podcasts to anyone who will listen.
Jennifer Barnes Eliot • Development and Communications Director
Jennifer has worked in communications, development, and marketing in a wide array of not-for-profit and for-profit organizations in the US and internationally, including stints in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Istanbul and New Delhi. She has a B.A. in Public Communication from American University and looks for every opportunity to jump on a plane and explore.
Angela Brooks • Development Coordinator
Angela Brooks is a librarian with experience in both public and school libraries. She’s also worked in social services. A native Washingtonian, she holds a BA in Human Relations from Trinity Washington University and an MSLIS from Catholic University. Her favorite genres are poetry, fantasy, biography, & realistic-fiction and she enjoys reading (mostly graphic novels and fiction) with her children.
Naaz Khan • Education Coordinator
Naaz has worked in the field of education, refugee resettlement and more recently as a storyteller and bookseller at an independent bookstore. As a third culture kid, she feels connected to multiple places including India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kenya, and the United States. Her first children’s book, ROOM FOR EVERYONE, which is set in Zanzibar, will be published through Caitlyn Dlouhy Books. Aside from reading and writing, Naaz’s soul is nourished through nature, tinkering around with music, and hosting interfaith gatherings. She holds a Masters degree in Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College and a diploma in Refugee Studies from the American University in Cairo.
Hallem Martin • Office Assistant
Hallem has previously worked for a real estate company and in library settings, including two positions at the Smithsonian Institute. Hallem attended Ivymount School in Rockville, MD. He describes himself as “easily approachable.”
Josarie Molina • Education Director
Josarie has been serving children and families for over 20 years as an art teacher, museum educator, art historian, school librarian, school and family program coordinator, storyteller and stage performer. She has a passion for events that foster life-long learning. Josarie loves to spend summers with family in her native Puerto Rico. She has a B.A. in visual arts, an M.A. in art education, and continues learning and creating every day.
Kerri Poore • Program Director
Prior to joining AOB, Kerri served as the director of publisher and author relations for First Book, a national nonprofit that provides new books to children in need. She also worked for 11 years in the Children and Teens Department at a large independent bookstore. Kerri has a Master’s degree from American University in international politics, has worked for the World Bank, the US State Department and lived in Madagascar for four years. She shares her home with her husband, son and their dog Waffles who hails from a small farm in Ithaca, NY.
Kathie Weinberg • Program Coordinator
Kathie is the Co-Director of We Need Diverse Books Walter Award, an award created to honor Walter Dean Myers. She is a library consultant with the Library of Congress, and provides leadership for their Teen Board. An active member of the American Library Association, YALSA and ALsC Divisions, she has presented at annual conferences and served on several awards ceremonies. Kathie has a Masters in Library Science from Simmons College and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin.
Misael Yanes • Ordering and Receiving Manager
Misael is a DMV native, who has worked in a variety of spaces ranging from retail work to non profit advocacy groups, such as Asian American LEAD and Association on American Indian Affairs. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from University of Maryland, where he also spent time volunteering with America Reads. In his free time he enjoys boxing, playing video games, and organizing with environmental groups.
Dara D. La Porte • Founding Director, 2010-2023, Retired
Before founding An Open Book, Dara was the manager of the children and teens department at a large independent bookstore. Dara served on the board of the Association of Booksellers for Children, was appointed to the American Booksellers Association’s Advisory Board, and participated on several national panels on young adult literature. Dara also taught middle school for 12 years.
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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FOR SCHOOLS & PROGRAMS
