Published and Proud: Sharing Our Stories Through Bookmaking
Help me give my students the opportunity to become proud, published authors sharing their diverse voices through stories they write.
$285 goal
This project expired on October 3, 2025.
This project expired on October 3, 2025.
My Project
My students are full of incredible stories—stories shaped by their families, cultures, neighborhoods, and dreams. I want to help them become real authors and illustrators by turning their personal narratives and creative works into published books they can be proud of.
By writing, illustrating, and publishing their own books, my students can see themselves reflected in literature, celebrate their identities, and feel empowered as creators.
We’re working on a storytelling project that encourages students to write about topics that matter to them—whether that’s their heritage, a challenge they’ve overcome, a local hero, or a fictional tale featuring characters who look like them. When we bind these stories into physical books with covers, titles, and illustrations, it sends a clear message: your story matters.
This project is not just about writing. It’s about representation. Many of my students come from racially and culturally diverse backgrounds, and they don’t always see themselves reflected in the books they read. By creating and publishing their own, they become the authors of the stories they wish existed.
To do that, we need one essential tool: a comb binding machine.
The comb binding machine will be a long-lasting resource, allowing us to publish future writing projects—memoirs, poetry collections, even social justice essays. Students will learn the entire writing process: brainstorming, revising, editing, illustrating, and finally, binding and sharing.
When students see their work turned into a real book—with their name on the cover—they light up with pride. It builds confidence, strengthens literacy, and most importantly, validates that their voice has power.
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
HBCU Alum500 students impacted
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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. S. Howard and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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