My African-American elementary students need six copies each of 9 fairy tale titles; these particular titles use African-American people in their illustrations.
FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Barton's classroom raised $541
This project is fully funded
My inner city elementary students are eager, though struggling readers. The student body is 100% African-American. I am the librarian, charged with finding quality, appealing materials for the whole student body. Reading is a priority in our school. Teachers read aloud daily and we Drop Everything and Read every afternoon. I have a bustling library program.
Traditional European fairy tales, such as Rapunzel, appeal to all children. These stories have a deep psychological appeal and they create a common memory pool that we all draw upon as we mature. Unfortunately, the illustrations in fairy tale books usually suggest that these stories are only for those of European descent. In fact, most picture books still feature white children only. Since children place themselves and their hearts into the stories they read, this is a huge problem. When I find a book, such as Jump at the Sun's version of Rapunzel, with a clearly black heroine, my students and their parents are very enthusiastic. Teachers in grades 1-4 teach traditional folk tales and fairy tales every year. My students need to know that these stories are THEIR stories, too.
Several companies now market fairy tales with both well-written text and black children in the illustrations. The Princess and the Pea, Goldilocks, Cinderella, and the other titles I have chosen work very well in these versions. Our classroom teachers run literature circles even in the younger grades. Multiple copies of these titles will make it possible for them to use these fairy tales in reading lessons and for projects. Parents also use my library. They will be able to borrow these books and introduce these timeless classics to their children.
These fairy tales are the kind of book that a child will read many times over. My older students will bring the stories home to read to younger siblings. Fluency improves when children reread books! Self-esteem improves when children see themselves in the stories they read. Your gift will contribute to the positive reading climate at our school. Seeing their own faces in the pages of the books they read will send the message to young black children that reading and books are for them, too. These nine titles will greatly enrich our library collection and the lives of the students who read the books.
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
Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Jum at the Sun Fairy-Tale Classics) John Kurtz (Illustrator)
• Barnes and Noble
$3.15
6
$18.90
Rapunzel (Jump at the Sun Fairy-Tale Classics) Jump at the Sun, Ollie Johnson, Brothers Grimm
• Barnes and Noble
$3.15
6
$18.90
Beauty and the Beast (Jump at the Sun Fairy-Tale Classics Series) Jump at the Sun, John Kurtz (Illustrator)
• Barnes and Noble
$3.15
6
$18.90
Cinderella (Jump at the Sun Fairy-Tale Classics Series) John Kurtz (Illustrator), tk
• Barnes and Noble
$3.15
6
$18.90
Jack and the Bean Stalk (Fairy-Tale Classics Series) Staff of Jump at the Sun, John Kurtz (Illustrator)
• Barnes and Noble
$3.15
6
$18.90
Over the River and Through the Woods (Jump at the Sun Holiday Classics Series) The Staff of Hyperion Books for Children, Lydia Maria Child, Rex Perry (Illustrator)
• Barnes and Noble
$3.15
6
$18.90
The Princess and the Pea Adapted by Rachel Isadora, Han Andersen, Rachel Isadora (Illustrator), Hans Christian Andersen
• Barnes and Noble
$15.29
6
$91.74
The Twelve Dancing Princesses Adapted by Rachel Isadora, Rachel Isadora (Illustrator), Retold by Rachel Isadora, Based On Work by Brothers Grimm
• Barnes and Noble
$15.29
6
$91.74
The Fisherman and His Wife Rachel Isadora, Rachel Isadora (Illustrator)
• Barnes and Noble
$13.59
6
$81.54
Materials cost
$378.42
Vendor shipping charges
$37.84
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$9.46
Fulfillment labor & materials
$17.00
Total project cost
$443.00
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$97.24
Total project goal
$540.24
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$540.24
1 Donor
-$521.18
Donations toward project cost
-$443.00
Donations 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 Mrs. Barton and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
