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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Balderas-Gutierrez from Chicago, IL is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Balderas-Gutierrez is requesting

Our Mighty Power Readers Need You!

My students need lots and lots of their favorite chapter books so they can checkout them out from our school library and read for pleasure and fun!

FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Balderas-Gutierrez's classroom raised $3,078

This project is fully funded

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate 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 Students

We are a small school that goes from PreK-Grade 3 that is located in a mostly Hispanic community. Although we are a primary school, we have a large student body of 600 (plus) students. I'll be honest, our students love coming to the library because they get to check out books! They are always excited to read books in a specific chapter book series. It is truly important for students to have access to literacy at school since unfortunately many do not visit the public library.

My Project

In Chicago we are facing tough economic struggles that have significantly affected many schools. My budget for books has been cut this year by a whopping 90%. I am left to shop for books in garage sales and thrift stores. However, that is still not enough. We have amazing readers who go through books quickly and I need new chapter book series to keep them interested and reading!

Bottom line: I need chapter books for those eager readers who ask for a new or different book each visit.

I also need chapter books for the little kindergartners and first graders who need to practice their reading.

Mrs. Balderas-Gutierrez Cardenas Elementary School Grades PreK-2

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

400 students impacted 5donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Ghosts • Amazon Business $15.33 6 $91.98
Awkward • Amazon Business $15.14 6 $90.84
Larry Gets Lost in Chicago • Amazon Business $13.23 6 $79.38
The Thank You Book (An Elephant and Piggie Book) • Amazon Business $6.80 10 $68.00
Dory Fantasmagory: The Real True Friend • Amazon Business $10.92 6 $65.52
The Princess in Black • Amazon Business $10.75 6 $64.50
Dog Man: From the Creator of Captain Underpants (Dog Man #1) • Amazon Business $7.99 8 $63.92
Trapped in a Video Game: Book One (Volume 1) • Amazon Business $7.99 8 $63.92
A New Class (Star Wars: Jedi Academy #4) • Amazon Business $7.92 8 $63.36
Star Wars: Jedi Academy, Return of the Padawan (Book 2) • Amazon Business $7.92 8 $63.36
Freddie Ramos Stomps the Snow (Zapato Power) • Amazon Business $12.61 5 $63.05
The Phantom Bully (Star Wars: Jedi Academy #3) • Amazon Business $7.79 8 $62.32
Freddie Ramos Makes a Splash (Zapato Power) • Amazon Business $14.99 4 $59.96
Dory Fantasmagory • Amazon Business $9.99 6 $59.94
The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party • Amazon Business $8.92 6 $53.52
The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde • Amazon Business $8.92 6 $53.52
Dory Fantasmagory: Dory Dory Black Sheep • Amazon Business $8.71 6 $52.26
The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation • Amazon Business $8.51 6 $51.06
Middle School Ninja: Legacy (Volume 1) • Amazon Business $7.99 6 $47.94
Freddie Ramos Zooms to the Rescue (Zapato Power) • Amazon Business $14.99 3 $44.97
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja 7: Scavengers • Amazon Business $6.99 6 $41.94
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja 10: My Worst Frenemy • Amazon Business $6.99 6 $41.94
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja 9: The Scavengers Strike Back • Amazon Business $6.99 6 $41.94
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja 8: Spirit Week Shenanigans • Amazon Business $6.99 6 $41.94
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja 6: Buchanan Bandits! • Amazon Business $6.99 6 $41.94
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja 5: Terror at the Talent Show • Amazon Business $6.99 6 $41.94
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja 4: A Game of Chase • Amazon Business $6.99 6 $41.94
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja 3: Rise of the Red Ninjas • Amazon Business $6.99 6 $41.94
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja 2: Pirate Invasion • Amazon Business $6.99 6 $41.94
El Deafo • Amazon Business $6.67 6 $40.02
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane • Amazon Business $9.28 4 $37.12
Picture Perfect (Sofia Martinez) • Amazon Business $5.95 6 $35.70
Lights Out (Sofia Martinez) • Amazon Business $5.95 6 $35.70
Singing Superstar (Sofia Martinez) • Amazon Business $5.95 6 $35.70
Abuela's Birthday (Sofia Martinez) • Amazon Business $5.95 6 $35.70
The Secret Recipe (Sofia Martinez) • Amazon Business $5.95 6 $35.70
The Beach Trip (Sofia Martinez) • Amazon Business $5.95 6 $35.70
The Missing Mouse (Sofia Martinez) • Amazon Business $5.95 6 $35.70
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja • Amazon Business $6.99 5 $34.95
Sunny Side Up • Amazon Business $7.92 4 $31.68
Roller Girl • Amazon Business $7.92 4 $31.68
Freddie Ramos Takes Off (Zapato Power) • Amazon Business $10.45 3 $31.35
The Marigold Mess (Sofia Martinez) • Amazon Business $5.07 6 $30.42
My Family Adventure (Sofia Martinez) • Amazon Business $4.95 6 $29.70
Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx / La juez que crecio en el Bronx (Spanish and English Edition) • Amazon Business $14.66 2 $29.32
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation (Jane Addams Award Book (Awards)) • Amazon Business $13.68 2 $27.36
Dork Diaries 11: Tales from a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy • Amazon Business $8.58 3 $25.74
Zombie Halloween (Goosebumps Most Wanted Special Edition #1) • Amazon Business $6.41 4 $25.64
Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (Classic Goosebumps #6) • Amazon Business $6.29 4 $25.16
My Vida Loca (Sofia Martinez) • Amazon Business $4.18 6 $25.08
Who Was Helen Keller? • Amazon Business $12.51 2 $25.02
Freddie Ramos Springs Into Action (Zapato Power) • Amazon Business $4.99 5 $24.95
Night of the Puppet People (Goosebumps Most Wanted #8) • Amazon Business $6.07 4 $24.28
The 12 Screams of Christmas (Goosebumps Most Wanted Special Edition #2) • Amazon Business $7.49 3 $22.47
The Haunter (Goosebumps Most Wanted Special Edition #4) • Amazon Business $6.47 3 $19.41
Night of the Living Dummy 2 (Classic Goosebumps #25) • Amazon Business $6.29 3 $18.87
Please Don't Feed the Vampire!: A Give Yourself Goosebumps Book (Classic Goosebumps #32) • Amazon Business $6.29 3 $18.87
Monster Blood (Classic Goosebumps #3) • Amazon Business $4.45 4 $17.80
Night of the Living Dummy (Classic Goosebumps #1) • Amazon Business $5.48 3 $16.44
Son of Slappy (Goosebumps Most Wanted #2) • Amazon Business $5.17 3 $15.51
For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai's Story (Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Picture Books) • Amazon Business $12.64 1 $12.64
Who Is Malala Yousafzai? (Who Was...?) • Amazon Business $4.44 2 $8.88
Malala: A Hero for All (Step into Reading) • Amazon Business $3.37 2 $6.74

Materials cost

$2,547.78

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$38.22

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$2,616.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$461.65

Total project goal

$3,077.65

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $3,077.65

5 Donors

-$3,077.65

Donations toward project cost

-$2,616.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$461.65

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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 Mrs. Balderas-Gutierrez and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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