Help me give my students a relevant and Inclusive, identity-affirming library for small group instruction that makes them feel seen, safe, and inspired to read.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. S's classroom raised $2,470
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Project
Too many of my 9th-grade English students are reading far below grade level. Some struggle with decoding, others with stamina, but nearly all struggle to see themselves in what we ask them to read. These books — written in a variety of formats — will change that so students have access to inclusive and culturally relevant books that reflect who they are and who they might become.
These books are not just stories — they are mirrors, windows, and doors; in a time when specific identities are under attack, representation in literature is not optional — it’s life-giving.
I’ve tried to curate a classroom library that celebrates diversity across race, culture, gender identity, mental health, and disability. Titles like "Starfish," "Pet," "El Deafo," "The 57 Bus," and "Brown Girl Dreaming" offer students the chance to hear voices that sound like their own and learn empathy. Every title on this list was chosen for both its readability and its representational power.
This is not about jumping on a political trend — it’s about protecting our kids' right to read, reflect, and grow. In this climate of book bans and silencing, I want my students to know this: your voice matters, your story matters, and your experience belongs on the shelf.
With your help, I can ensure that each student has access to books that make them feel powerful, seen, and safe — books that can spark joy, healing, and a lifelong love of literacy.
Your support will fund over 30 inclusive titles for high interest/low readability (650–950L)
Graphic novels, memoirs in verse, Spanish editions, books affirming LGBTQ+ youth, BIPOC students, disabled, and neurodivergent readers.
Copies for 6–7 students per title to support teacher-led reading groups or student-led literature circles.
Thank you for helping us build a safe space for our children.
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
Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood (hardcover) x MahoganyBooks - featured Black History books for classroom library
• DonorsChoose Featured Favorites
$18.00
7
$126.00
Tell Me I'm Worthless
• Amazon Business
$15.12
7
$105.84
There There (YA paperback, Native American voices)
• DonorsChoose Featured Favorites
$15.00
7
$105.00
The Summer of Bitter and Sweet - Hardcover Book
• AKJ Education
$14.59
7
$102.13
Juliet Takes a Breath: The Graphic Novel
• Amazon Business
$13.94
7
$97.58
Displacement
• Amazon Business
$12.99
7
$90.93
Truth About Alice
• Amazon Business
$12.08
7
$84.56
Pet (paperback, ages 12+) x Black Books Matter from MahoganyBooks
• DonorsChoose Featured Favorites
$12.00
7
$84.00
The Weight of Our Sky
• Amazon Business
$11.37
7
$79.59
You Bring the Distant Near
• Amazon Business
$11.15
7
$78.05
Brown Girl Dreaming (paperback) x Black Books Matter from MahoganyBooks
• DonorsChoose Featured Favorites
$11.00
7
$77.00
The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives
• Amazon Business
$10.99
7
$76.93
Everything Sad Is Untrue (a true story)
• Amazon Business
$10.79
7
$75.53
Starfish
• Amazon Business
$10.31
7
$72.17
Turtles All the Way Down
• Amazon Business
$9.81
7
$68.67
El Deafo: Superpowered Edition!: A Graphic Novel
• Amazon Business
$9.46
7
$66.22
We Are Not from Here
• Amazon Business
$8.99
7
$62.93
No somos de aquí / We Are Not from Here (Spanish Edition)
• Amazon Business
$8.68
7
$60.76
They Called Us Enemy
• Amazon Business
$8.62
7
$60.34
Mexican WhiteBoy
• Amazon Business
$8.49
7
$59.43
Darius the Great Is Not Okay
• Amazon Business
$8.39
7
$58.73
When Stars Are Scattered: (National Book Award Finalist)
• Amazon Business
$8.26
7
$57.82
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century
• Amazon Business
$7.52
7
$52.64
New Kid: A Newbery Award Winner―A Graphic Novel about Fitting in and Staying True to Yourself
• Amazon Business
$7.43
7
$52.01
Inside Out and Back Again: A Newbery Honor Award Winner
• Amazon Business
$6.23
7
$43.61
Mil veces hasta siempre / Turtles All the Way Down (Spanish Edition)
• Amazon Business
$13.62
3
$40.86
Estrella de mar / Starfish (Spanish Edition)
• Amazon Business
$12.95
3
$38.85
Go Ask Alice (Anonymous Diaries)
• Amazon Business
$4.69
7
$32.83
Pocho / Mexican Whiteboy (Spanish Edition)
• Amazon Business
$9.30
3
$27.90
Materials cost
$2,038.91
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$30.58
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$2,099.49
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$370.50
Total project goal
$2,469.99
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$2,469.99
7 Donors
-$599.37
Donations toward project cost
-$524.46
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$74.91
Matching donations from our partners
-$1,852.98
Match offers toward project cost
-$1,575.03
Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. S and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
