Joy for Books

Join the growing number of supporters who have already purchased bookplates and become part of a child’s reading journey. 📚✨ With a donation of $25 or more, you can honor a loved one, celebrate your family, or recognize a mentor with a custom bookplate placed inside a donated book. Your dedication becomes a meaningful part of a story that a child will treasure. Every bookplate also helps us place more culturally diverse books into the hands of children who need them most. Visit the link to join us in making a lasting impact: https://lnkd.in/gdxwBse3

We are thrilled to launch our 2026 fundraiser: Honor a Reader | Inspire a Reader. 📚✨ Our goal this year is to create a tangible connection between our supporters and the young readers we serve. That is why we are introducing personalized bookplates. For every donation of $25 or more, a custom bookplate will be placed inside the culturally diverse books we donate to classrooms and families. Whether you are honoring a colleague or memorializing a loved one, your dedication becomes a permanent part of a beautiful story. 📖❤️ With 1,384 books donated to date, we are eager to keep the momentum going. Help us inspire the next generation of readers! Support the mission here: https://lnkd.in/gdxwBse3

Tomorrow marks the final day to submit titles for consideration in Joy for Books’ annual review process. Submit your recommendations here: https://lnkd.in/gEbKBVD4 Selected books will be included in our educator-facing online bookstore and featured in our annual list of recommended titles. We are seeking culturally diverse children’s books with 2024–2026 copyright dates. If you’re a publisher, author, or advocate for inclusive storytelling, we welcome your submissions.

Big news at Joy for Books! 📚 We are incredibly honored to announce that we have officially partnered with The Library Project. Joy for Books is proud to be The Library Project’s first Global Partner in the United States. Through this collaboration, we are scaling our "Read & Connect" program to bring more culturally diverse children’s books and structured literacy sessions to classrooms across the country. Our missions are deeply aligned: we believe every child deserves to see themselves in the stories they read. We are grateful to Tom Stader and the entire team at The Library Project for their support in helping us foster empathy and a lifelong love of reading. Read the full announcement on their blog here: https://lnkd.in/gFnKsGcb

📚 At Joy for Books, we don’t just give books—we choose them with purpose. Every title we share is intentionally curated to reflect diverse identities, cultures, and experiences—not through a “colorblind” lens, but with a commitment to authentic representation. We look for stories that not only affirm individual identities but also create opportunities for connection across different experiences. Each book is thoughtfully reviewed using a structured rubric, alongside input from our creative team, to ensure it reflects: ✔️ Authentic representation ✔️ Literary quality ✔️ Age-appropriate content Because every child deserves stories that reflect their world—and expand it.

For our Books We Love series, we’re highlighting "Dancing the Tinikling" by Filipino-American author Bobbie Peyton and illustrated by Diobelle Cerna. This vibrant and engaging story introduces readers to the Filipino dance tradition of tinikling, blending movement, history, and culture in a way that feels both joyful and meaningful. As one of our reviewers shared, the book brings to life a cultural tradition shaped by a difficult history and reclaims it as a source of pride. The illustrations are bright, energetic, and full of color, perfectly capturing the spirit of the story. Reviewers also highlighted how the book uses dance as a creative way to explore Filipino culture, with additional historical context that deepens understanding. It is a delightful and educational read that feels both fun and purposeful. At Joy for Books, we love stories that celebrate culture, spark curiosity, and create joyful learning experiences. Books like "Dancing the Tinikling" do exactly that.

Last week, Joy for Books had the opportunity to speak with a group of high school students exploring careers in teaching. Our presentation, "Using Books as a Tool to Create an Inclusive Classroom," introduced students to Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop’s powerful concept of mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors—along with practical criteria for selecting culturally appropriate books. It was energizing to see future educators engage so thoughtfully and get excited about the impact culturally diverse books can have in their classrooms. 💛

Joy for Books is honored to be a programmatic partner of The Library Project. Thanks to their generous grant support, we’re able to reach more educators with culturally diverse books. Last week, we provided a classroom collection to a new teacher, adding new stories to her classroom. Through our curated online bookstore, she was able to select the titles that best fit her classroom needs. During our visit, we read “Miguel’s Community Garden” with her first graders, and conversation blossomed. Students eagerly shared their thoughts on asparagus, mulberries, and even artichokes—proof that stories spark curiosity and open the door to new ideas.

Diverse children’s books matter, but how they show up matters just as much. Stories about oppression and injustice are important. They build awareness and empathy. But they cannot be the only stories we tell about children of color. Our kids deserve more. Because representation isn’t just about being seen—it’s about being seen fully. They deserve: 📚 Biographies that inspire 📚 Slice-of-life stories that reflect everyday joy 📚 Books that celebrate culture and identity 📚 Stories that affirm their worth and encourage self-love When we bring all of these stories together, we create something powerful: A tapestry that reflects the full, beautiful complexity of who our children are.

This month, Joy for Books had the honor of partnering with UBE-AZ (United Black Episcopalians of Arizona) in support of Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, an organization that supports families as they transition into stable housing. Our goal was simple: bring the joy of reading to children stepping into new chapters of their lives. We curated a diverse collection of books tailored to the ages and interests of the children in the program—but the most meaningful part was giving children the opportunity to choose their own books. This simple act fosters ownership, confidence, and excitement around reading while helping build their personal home libraries. We closed the evening with a bookmark-making activity, reinforcing that reading is not just educational—it can also be creative and personal. Grateful to @FamilyPromiseAZ and @UBE_AZ for the opportunity to support such important work in our community. #Literacy #NonprofitPartnerships #CommunityImpact #EducationEquity #JoyForBooks