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Mr. Jones from Louisville, KY is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Fully Funded

Mr. Jones's classroom raised $531

Books Without Borders: Building a Joyful Bilingual Library

Help me give my students Spanish, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili books to help foster their love of reading.

This project is fully funded

Mr. Jones J.F. Kennedy Montessori Elementary School

Louisville, KY Grades 3-5

My Project

At J. Elementary, our library is more than just a space for books—it’s a sanctuary where every child’s voice, language, and identity are valued. Our students are incredibly diverse and resilient, with many speaking Spanish, Swahili, Somali, or Kinyarwanda at home. They come to school full of curiosity and pride in who they are, and they deserve a library that reflects and celebrates that.

The books in this project were selected with their unique needs in mind.

From Hombre Perro (Dog Man) in Spanish to joyful bilingual picture books in Swahili, Somali, and Kinyarwanda, these stories will allow students to read in both English and their home languages. Fun series like Phoebe and Her Unicorn and Dork Diaries invite laughter and connection, while affirming titles like Happy Within and Mama’s Shawl reinforce self-love, family, and cultural pride.

These resources will make a meaningful difference by building language skills, boosting reading fluency, and fostering a strong sense of identity. Students who see themselves in books are more likely to engage deeply with reading and feel a sense of belonging. My goal is to create a bilingual collection where all students—whether multilingual learners or native English speakers—can learn from, about, and with each other.

What makes our students so special is their strength, empathy, and cultural richness. They thrive when given the opportunity to be seen and heard. As the 2025 School Library Journal Librarian of the Year, I am committed to curating a library that reflects our beautiful community.

With your support, we’ll build more than a book collection—we’ll build confidence, connection, and a lifelong love of reading for every child who walks through our doors.

Equity Focus

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households

90 students impacted 6 donors

Project tagged as

Louisville, KY
Grades 3-5
English Language Learning
World Languages
Traditional School
Books
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households

Mr. Jones J.F. Kennedy Montessori Elementary School 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.

Louisville, KY View local requests

More than three‑quarters 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

90 students impacted 6donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total

Elephant and Piggie Collection - 18 Book Set • AKJ Education $133.46 1 $133.46

Phoebe and Her Unicorn Series, 10-Book Set • Amazon Business $82.00 1 $82.00

Dork Diaries By Rachel Renee Russell 12 Books Collection Set • Amazon Business $39.99 1 $39.99

Mama's Shawl- Garbasaarta Hooyo: A Bilingual English-Somali Children's Picture Book • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99

You Can Do Big Things-Karti Baad Leedahay: A Bilingual English-Somali Book • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99

Happy Within / Furaha ndani: Children's Bilingual Picture Book: English & Swahili / Kitabu cha Picha cha Watoto cha Lugha Mbili: Kiingereza na Kiswahili (Swahili Bilingual Books for Kids) • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99

Hombre Perro: El Señor de las Pulgas (Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas) (5) (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99

My Most Beautiful Dream – Ndoto yangu nzuri sana kuliko zote (English – Swahili): Bilingual children's picture book (Sefa's Bilingual Picture Books – English / Swahili) • Amazon Business $12.80 1 $12.80

Sleep Tight, Little Wolf – Lala salama, mbwa mwitu mdogo (English – Swahili): Bilingual children's picture book with audiobook for download (Sefa's Bilingual Picture Books – English / Swahili) • Amazon Business $12.80 1 $12.80

Hombre Perro: Cumbres maternales (Dog Man: Mothering Heights) (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $12.69 1 $12.69

Hombre Perro: Por quién rueda la pelota (Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls ) (7) (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $11.99 1 $11.99

Learn Swahili and English: Children Bilingual Book, Teach your child Swahili, Teach your child English, Swahili language book (Bilingual Book for kids) • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99

Hombre Perro y Supergatito (Dog Man and Cat Kid) (4) (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $9.49 1 $9.49

Hombre Perro: Atrapa 22 - Hardcover Book • AKJ Education $9.48 1 $9.48

Akello Akunda Gukora Iki? What does Akello love to do?: A Bilingual Book in Kinyarwanda and English • Amazon Business $7.99 1 $7.99

Kinyarwanda Children's Book: Alice in Wonderland (English and Kinyarwanda Edition) • Amazon Business $6.99 1 $6.99

Quien Fue...? / Who Was...? - ?Quien fue Selena? - Paperback Book • AKJ Education $5.10 1 $5.10

Materials cost			$414.73
Vendor shipping charges			FREE
Sales tax			$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee			$6.22
Fulfillment labor & materials			$30.00
Total project cost			$450.95
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			$79.58
Total project goal			$530.53
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal			$530.53
5 Donors			-$350.26
Donations toward project cost			-$297.72
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			-$52.54
match offer			-$180.27
Match offer toward project cost			-$153.23
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			-$27.04
Still needed View calculation Hide calculation			$0.00

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

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Project Activity

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 Mr. Jones 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 Without Borders: Building a Joyful Bilingual Library

This project is fully funded

My Project

Equity Focus

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

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.