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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Carpen from Chicago, IL is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Carpen is requesting

Books That Look Like Us

Help me give my students books that reflect who they are, where they come from, and all they’re capable of—diverse science stories, Black history, and women in STEM that inspire, empower, and belong in our classroom.

  • $982 goal

This project expired on November 17, 2025.

This project expired on November 17, 2025.

My Project

My students are curious, creative, and full of potential. They come from the southwest side of Chicago, where 99% of them are students of color and face economic barriers. Despite the challenges they navigate every day, they walk into my classroom ready to learn, explore, and dream big. They deserve to see themselves reflected in the books they read — not just in stories about struggle, but in stories of innovation, leadership, and greatness. This project will help make that possible.

By adding science books, history texts, and graphic novels that highlight women in STEM, Black history, and diverse leaders, I’m creating a classroom library that feels like a mirror and a window.

These books will give students the chance to connect with the curriculum in a meaningful way, spark their curiosity, and show them the impact they can have on the world. Whether it’s a graphic novel about a young scientist or a biography of a civil rights leader, these stories will deepen their engagement and inspire them to keep learning.

My goal is to build a space where my students feel represented, valued, and motivated. They are not just readers — they are future leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. Providing books that honor their identities and cultures will remind them that their stories matter, both inside and outside of the classroom. This library will be a daily reminder that who they are is powerful, and what they learn can change their future.

Ms. Carpen Johnson Elementary School Grades 6-8

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 directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Chicago, IL View local requests

Nearly all 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

75 students impacted

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
IOTXY Wooden Open Shelf Bookcase - 3-Tier Floorstanding Display Cabinet Rack with Legs, 7 Cubes Free Standing Bookshelf, Warm White • Amazon Business $93.49 1 $93.49
The Baby-sitters Club #1-7 Graphic Novel Box Set (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphix) • Amazon Business $45.00 1 $45.00
Pizza and Taco Lunch Special: 6-Book Boxed Set: Books 1-6 (A Graphic Novel Boxed Set) • Amazon Business $35.03 1 $35.03
A Really Short History of Nearly Everything • Amazon Business $34.20 1 $34.20
Caste (Adapted for Young Adults) (YA paperback, ages 12+) x Black Books Matter from MahoganyBooks - featured Black History books for classroom library • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $16.00 2 $32.00
Run: Book One (hardcover graphic novel, ages 14+) - featured Black History books for classroom library • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $25.00 1 $25.00
Guinness World Records 2023 • Amazon Business $24.74 1 $24.74
Definitely Nat: A Graphic Novel Box Set (Nat Enough #1-3) • Amazon Business $23.50 1 $23.50
Five Nights at Freddy's Graphic Novel Trilogy Box Set (Five Nights at Freddy's Graphic Novels) • Amazon Business $22.60 1 $22.60
Timelines from Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies (hardcover, ages 8-12) - featured Black History books for classroom library • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $22.00 1 $22.00
The Interactive Constitution: Explore the Constitution with flaps, wheels, color-changing words, and more! (The Interactive Explorer, 1) • Amazon Business $21.14 1 $21.14
Free Lunch (paperback) • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $10.00 2 $20.00
A Kids Book About The Tulsa Race Massacre (hardcover) - featured Black History books for classroom library • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $20.00 1 $20.00
World Flags Extra Large Educational Poster Laminated Split 2 Part Young N Refined (24x30) • Amazon Business $19.95 1 $19.95
The LEGO Ideas Book Unlock Your Imagination - Hardcover Book • AKJ Education $18.24 1 $18.24
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race (hardcover) - featured Black History picture books for classroom library • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $18.00 1 $18.00
Deadly Hearts: History's Most Dangerous People • Amazon Business $15.53 1 $15.53
Lonely Planet Kids Atlas of Dogs • Amazon Business $14.99 1 $14.99
Women in STEM: Women Who Changed Science and the World Pioneers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math • Amazon Business $14.99 1 $14.99
Decorably 18 US History Posters for Classroom Middle School, 11x17in Matte-Laminated Educational US Government Posters for Classroom Decor • Amazon Business $14.99 1 $14.99
Wicked Bugs: The Louse That Conquered Napoleon's Army & Other Diabolical Insects • Amazon Business $14.08 1 $14.08
Invisible: A Graphic Novel (paperback graphic novel) • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $14.00 1 $14.00
Halo-Halo: A poetic mix of culture, history, identity, revelation, and revolution • Amazon Business $13.94 1 $13.94
Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities • Amazon Business $13.79 1 $13.79
Food Mistakes That Worked: How Popular food items were invented and discovered by mistake • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99
Female, Gifted, and Black: Awesome Art and Literary Pioneers Who Changed the World (Black Historical Figures, Women in Black History) • Amazon Business $12.98 1 $12.98
The Black History Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained (DK Big Ideas) • Amazon Business $12.95 1 $12.95
Magic Has No Borders • Amazon Business $12.52 1 $12.52
Nevertheless, We Persisted: 48 Voices of Defiance, Strength, and Courage • Amazon Business $12.09 1 $12.09
S&O Large Science Posters for Classroom Elementary School, Educational Setup for study area, Science themed billboards for High Schools Decor, Scientific Inspirational banners for Teaching Area- 10PC • Amazon Business $10.87 1 $10.87
Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World • Amazon Business $10.49 1 $10.49
Black Women in Science: A Black History Book for Kids (Biographies for Kids) • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Decorably 12 US History Posters for Classroom High School, 12x16in Matte-Laminated Educational Social Studies Classroom Decorations • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Engineering for Teens: A Beginner's Book for Aspiring Engineers • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Decorably 15 Black History Posters for Classroom, 11x14in Matte-Laminated Inspirational Social Studies Classroom Decorations • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Decorably 12 Black History Posters for Classroom High School, 11x14in Matte-Laminated Black History Month Posters for Classroom • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
The Book of Awesome Black Americans: Scientific Pioneers, Trailblazing Entrepreneurs, Barrier-Breaking Activists and Afro-Futurists (Teen and YA ... African-American Biographies) (Awesome Books) • Amazon Business $9.78 1 $9.78
Civil Rights Then and Now: A Timeline of Past and Present Social Justice Issues in America (Black History Book For Kids) (Woo! Jr. Kids Activities Books) • Amazon Business $9.25 1 $9.25
Muhammad Najem, War Reporter: How One Boy Put the Spotlight on Syria • Amazon Business $9.07 1 $9.07
Invisible Things • Amazon Business $8.65 1 $8.65
Outus 13 Pieces Forms of Government and Economic Ideologies Posters Social Studies Classroom Decorations History Sociology Bulletin Board Decor Set for Middle High School Educational Learning • Amazon Business $8.59 1 $8.59
Black Men in Science: A Black History Book for Kids (Biographies for Kids) • Amazon Business $7.79 1 $7.79
100 African Americans Who Shaped American History: Incredible Stories of Black Heroes (Black History Books for Kids) • Amazon Business $7.49 1 $7.49
A Drop Around the World: The Science Of Water Cycles On Planet Earth For Kids (Earth Science, Science Books For Kids, Nature Books) • Amazon Business $5.57 1 $5.57

Materials cost

$792.23

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$11.88

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$834.11

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$147.20

Total project goal

$981.31

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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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 Ms. Carpen and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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