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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Bussey from Atlanta, GA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Books About Me (Literature ft. African-American Characters)

My students need books that feature African-American main characters such as EllRay Jakes, Nikki & Deja, Messy Bessey, and many more!

FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Bussey's classroom raised $496

This project is fully funded

My Students

My students are avid readers who love the opportunity to read brand new books. As third graders, they lead our entire Kindergarten through 6th grade school in the amount of books read this school year. Many of them have already met the end of the year goal of reading over 40 books!

My students make up one of the most unique classrooms you will ever find!

Our school is located in the heart of our city. Our local community is predominately African-American, and we service students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. I teach in a school with the highest number of homeless children in our district, yet these kids come in everyday excited to learn! As their teacher, I seek to motivate them through literature and before I know it, they are the ones motivating me! The passion for reading that has been ignited within them is inspiring. This is an awesome bunch of kids who show me everyday that no matter where you come from, anything is possible!

My Project

I am requesting books that feature African-American main characters such as EllRay Jakes, Nikki & Deja, Messy Bessey, and many more! Students will use these books to participate in various reading activities, but ultimately, the main goal is for them to spend time reading! With all of the changes and reform happening in education, one thing that remains constant is that the best way to become a better reader is to READ BOOKS!

Of the 3,600 children's books published in the U.S.

each year, only 3% feature African-American main characters. When you take out books where the characters are featured as slaves or oppressed citizens, that percentage becomes much smaller. When my class read the novel, The Watsons Go To Birmingham - 1963, I saw them make connections like never before. Having the opportunity to read books about characters with experiences similar to their own will truly show them the power of reading!

Project tagged as

Atlanta, GA
Grades 3-5
Literacy
History & Geography
Charter School
Books
More than half of students from low‑income households

Mr. Bussey Centennial Academy Grades 3-5

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

Equity Focus

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Atlanta, GA View local requests

More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

56 students impacted 10donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total

Mary Mcleod Bethune • AKJ Books $16.50 1 $16.50

Frederick Douglass • AKJ Books $16.50 1 $16.50

Out of My Mind • AKJ Books $6.56 2 $13.12

New Girl in Town • AKJ Books $11.67 1 $11.67

Sassy: Little Sister is not my Name Sharon M. Draper • AKJ Books $10.94 1 $10.94

The Space Mission Adventure • AKJ Books $3.64 2 $7.28

Allie''s Basketball Dream Barbara E. Barber, Darryl Ligasan ( • AKJ Books $7.26 1 $7.26

Francie • AKJ Books $6.56 1 $6.56

Cecile''s Gift • AKJ Books $6.26 1 $6.26

Madam C. J. Walker • AKJ Books $5.80 1 $5.80

Paul Robeson • AKJ Books $5.80 1 $5.80

Jesse Owens • AKJ Books $5.80 1 $5.80

Goal Line • AKJ Books $5.10 1 $5.10

Red Zone • AKJ Books $5.10 1 $5.10

Kickoff! Tiki Barber, Ronde Barber, With Paul Mantell • AKJ Books $5.10 1 $5.10

A Million Fish...More or Less Patricia McKissack, Pat McKiss • AKJ Books $5.10 1 $5.10

Carter G. Woodson • AKJ Books $5.07 1 $5.07

Martin Luther King, Jr. • AKJ Books $5.07 1 $5.07

The Buried Bones Mystery • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

The Newsy News Newsletter • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Wedding Drama • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

The Newsy News Newsletter • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

EllRay Jakes Is a Rock Star • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

EllRay Jakes Is Magic • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

EllRay Jakes Is Not a Chicken • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

EllRay Jakes Rocks the Holidays! • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Ellray Jakes the Dragon Slayer • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

EllRay Jakes Walks the Plank! • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Most Valuable • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Schooled • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Slam Dunk • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Standing Tall and Talented • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Double Team • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Dog Days • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Nikki & Deja • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Nikki and Deja: Birthday Blues Karen English, Laura Freeman • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Election Madness • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

EllRay Jakes and the Beanstalk • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Wedding Drama • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Go Long! • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Nikki & Deja • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Dog Days • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Nikki and Deja: Birthday Blues Karen English, Laura Freeman • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

Election Madness • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37

More Stories Huey Tells • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Stories Huey Tells, The • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Nikki and Deja: Substitute Trouble • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Stories Julian Tells • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

More Stories Julian Tells • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Miami Gets it Straight • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Plum Fantastic (Sugar Plum Ballerinas Series #1) Whoopi Gold • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Toeshoe Trouble (Sugar Plum Ballerinas Series #2) Whoopi Gol • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Perfectly Prima (Sugar Plum Ballerinas Series #3) Whoopi Gol • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Gloria Rising • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Gloria''s Way • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Julian''s Glorious Summer • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Julian, Dream Doctor • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Julian, Secret Agent • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Terrible Terrel • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Sugar Plums to the Rescue • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Sugar Plum Ballerinas Dancing Diva • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Nikki and Deja: Substitute Trouble • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Miami Sees it Through • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Miami Makes the Play • AKJ Books $3.64 1 $3.64

Messy Bessey • AKJ Books $3.61 1 $3.61

Messy Bessey''s Closet • AKJ Books $3.61 1 $3.61

Messy Bessey''s Family Reunion • AKJ Books $3.61 1 $3.61

Messy Bessey''s Garden (Revised Edition) Patricia C. McKissac • AKJ Books $3.61 1 $3.61

Messy Bessey''s Holidays Patricia McKissack, Fredrick L. McKi • AKJ Books $3.61 1 $3.61

Messy Bessey''s School Desk Patricia C. McKissack, Frederick • AKJ Books $3.61 1 $3.61

The Missing Cupcake Mystery • AKJ Books $2.91 1 $2.91

Clothes I Love to Wear • AKJ Books $2.91 1 $2.91

Amistad • AKJ Books $2.91 1 $2.91

Materials cost			$360.84
Vendor shipping charges			FREE
Sales tax			$24.90
3rd party payment processing fee			$5.41
Fulfillment labor & materials			$30.00
Total project cost			$421.15
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			$74.32
Total project goal			$495.47
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal			$495.47
9 Donors			-$474.29
Donations toward project cost			-$421.15
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			-$53.14
Excluded support for DonorsChoose			-$21.18
Still needed View calculation Hide calculation			$0.00

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Project Activity

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Bussey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

This teacher needs your help!

Books About Me (Literature ft. African-American Characters)

This project is fully funded

My Students

My Project

Project tagged as

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

Equity Focus

Boost your odds

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

How we calculate what's needed

Give the most requested basic supplies

Give back to your community

Project Activity

Project Activity

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.