An Open Book Foundation

Savoy ES creative, engaged, excited, and curious 4th graders have been working hard in their 🐌 sketches with @kevinmcwho who is leading 4 days of snail learning, drawing, speech balloons, and cranky theater fun inspired by SNAILS ARE JUST MY SPEED!

It’s Give Greater DC day! Here are three reasons to fund literacy this spring: 1) Right now, book bans are at an all-time high, which limits young people’s access to books. An Open Book is dedicated to putting books in the hands of DC-area readers so they can see themselves reflected in stories. 2) When you support An Open Book, you are telling young readers in DC that they matter and that they deserve to meet cool authors/illustrators from across the country. 3) After each class visit, each DC-area student walks away with a new book to add to their home library. Don’t you just love the new-book smell? Every gift today will make a meaningful difference in the lives of DC students throughout the upcoming school year. You can support AOB at the link in our bio!

Kathie Weinberg spent her professional career as a librarian, first as a law librarian and then as a specialist in children and teen services at the Connie Morella Public Library. Now, as a program volunteer with @aobfound (AOB), she helps bring authors—who donate their time—to Title 1 Schools. AOB also makes it possible for each child to get a copy of the author's book. "My small part has been selecting books, arranging visits, shepherding the authors to schools, and often introducing them," she said. She has also had the joy of watching the students interact with the authors, who typically personally sign each child's book. "Nothing compares to a child's reaction to receiving what is often their first book, especially from an author with whom they can identify." For instance, one day, when an author approached a student's desk, the student closed his book and placed his hands on it. When asked if he wanted his book signed, the student said no. "It's the first book I ever owned," he said, "and I don't want anyone writing in it!" Kathie is proud to be part of AOB's mission and loves spreading the word about her friends and other future donors. In a nod to Walter Dean Myers, she said, "books do save lives." Support AOB this #GiveGreaterDC by visiting GiveGreaterDC.org! Photo of Kathie Weinberg taken by Steven Weinberg. Additional photos by AOB

Every day, An Open Book nurtures a lifelong love of literature for young readers and supports educational justice by building equitable access to interactive literacy enrichment and high-quality books. Help us celebrate Give Greater DC by contributing to our mission. /o/an-open-book-foundation

Beyond grateful for Karen and JaMia to spend the morning in conversation with Artivist and Illustrator Nikkolas Smith, then go with him to deliver a workshop to 1st and 2nd graders at Barnard Elementary Public School in DC. Every child got a free signed copy of The Artivist. 💯 We got to see a early copy of his next book due out October 6, 2026! Another special contribution to Artivism, children's books, and Literary Arts. Such a warm and humble individual. We're excited to build and support Nikkolas work as it sits within The Artivism Library Collection. Thank you Kerri, @aobfound for setting it up. Social Art and Culture is excited to continue building something special with you all. Lastly to Principal Dr. Reid, Security Officer Ms. Brenda, and Librarian Ms. Madera ❤️...amazing leadership! #bannedbooks #unbanned #freedomtoread #childrensbooks #artivism

Give Greater DC is almost here! To continue our mission of bringing authors/illustrators to D.C. area Title 1 schools, we need your support to keep going. Get new books into young readers’ hands by supporting today at the link in bio.

Support An Open Book this spring and participate in Give Greater DC, a regional day of giving-a day of supporting and lifting up the critical local nonprofits that support our community every day. An Open Book Foundation connects Washington DC-area students with authors, illustrators, and their books to nurture a lifelong love of reading. Each year, we impact D.C. area Title 1 schools, with the majority of our author/illustrator events taking place in Wards 7 and 8. On or before May 12th, you can make a direct impact to students in your area by donating at the link in our bio!

We had the best day ever last week with @huda.almarashi . She joined us for visits to @johnburroughs_rams AND @johnlewisesdc for her new fabulous book HAIL MARIAM (@kokilabooks ). We love it when students see themselves in the books we bring to the school. And several came away feeling seen! One table even started a read aloud with each other. We hope you’ll look visit with us again one day, Huda! Thanks again. Special thanks to our school contacts for being rockstars! And to @dc_moca for their generous support for our work.

When An Open Book brings an author or illustrator to a Title 1 school, each student leaves with a brand new book! Do you want to impact D.C. area students this #ChildrensBookWeek? Shop our Bookshop.org wishlist to put a book right into a student's hands! LINK IN BIO.

“How do you take care of the things and people you care about?” asked author illustrator Katie Yamasaki @katieyamasaki to a crowd of enthusiastic students at Houston Elementary and Plummer Elementary. The question was inspired by her latest book, “Ripples” @nortonyoungreaders which features kids and their caregivers tending to each other, and to the natural world. The kindergarten, first, and second graders eagerly shared personal experiences of caring and being cared for, and then explored how individual acts of care can have a ripple effect. Students and teachers were also captivated by Yamasaki’s stories of her incredible art and mural projects with people in prison, and how a number of those experiences have shaped the books she’s created. To learn more about Katie Yamasaki’s beautiful books and her deeply impactful work, please visit Katieyamasaki.com Thanks to our partnership with @lovedclibrary and a visit from our friends at the DCPL Capitol View branch for joining us.

We are so grateful to author Kirsten Cappy, for sharing her book Kende! Kende! Kende! with 1st and 2nd graders at John Burroughs Elementary School. @johnburroughs_rams Students learned about some of the real people and life circumstances that inspired the story, which features a Congolese refugee family fleeing their home and journeying to the United States. Students enthusiastically practiced Lingala and were excited to learn that the book (written in English and French with sprinkles of Lingala) also features a page where they can use a QR code to hear the story in French, English, Lingala, Swahili, Portuguese, Kinyarwanda and Arabic. In addition to an engaging story time experience, Kirsten highlighted the value of diversity and expressed the importance of making everyone living in the United States feel like they are welcome and belong here. At the end of the presentation students also had the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the Republic of Congo, and how all of us are connected to the issues unfolding there. “In all our cell phones there is a mineral from the mountains of Congo, called blue gold. So wherever you go, you’re carrying a little piece of Lolie and her family’s home with you.” To learn more about the book and about Kirsten Cappy’s organization I’m Your Neigbor Books please visit imyourneighborbooks.org @kirstencappy @imyourneighborbooks @childsplaybooks @dcrotaryclub

“Never let anyone stop you from telling your story”- a word of encouragement from @oliviaabtahi to the 3rd & 4th graders of @raymondesdcps ! The author and students connected at Planet Word Museum to hear all about “The Interpreter”(@penguinrandomhouse ), Olivia’s debut picture book! They also toured the language-focused museum following the author talk! Thanks to Olivia for the read aloud and for emphasizing the value of reading & writing! Gratitude to @planetworddc for your partnership!