The fifth grade students at Dorothy Height Elementary School spent time creating their own characters and sharing them with each other and New York Times bestselling author **Nathan Hale** during his 3-day artist-in-residence program at the elementary school. They used Hale's interactive book ***Let's Make History! (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales): Create Your Own Comics*** to stretch their imaginations while Hale demonstrated his storytelling and drawing skills.

by Jackie Turcios

Last month, An Open Book Foundation partnered with local school librarians to help promote literacy in Wards 4 and 5 by bringing authors and their books into local Title I schools.

The Foundation works with publicists, authors and illustrators to find books that aligns with student interests and the schools’ study focuses. Earlier this year, the Foundation brought author Shadra Strickland and her picture book JUMP IN!, a bright, joyful book that celebrates a community at play, to the kindergarten class at Truesdell Elementary in Petworth. They brought a book on the environment to Burroughs Elementary School in Ward 5, helping students understand how humans encroach on wildlife spaces and encouraged them to brainstorm creative solutions, such as creating a crosswalk so that turtles can safely cross a road.

In addition to books that align with students’ curriculums, An Open Book attempts to also highlight POC debut authors that students can connect with. In this past month, An Open Book Foundation has brought The Sum of Us: How Racism Affects Everyone to Ida B Wells Elementary School, Abuelita and I Make Flan to Brightwood Elementary School, and Voces Sin Fronteras to Cardozo High School.

Jennifer Barnes Eliot, the Development and Communications Director said that students benefit in socio-emotional ways through the author visits that are provided. “Kids feel special and unique when authors come. They feel validated and love to be able to ask questions.”

Author **Claribel Ortega** and illustrator **Rose Bousamra** met with the 4th graders at Barnard Elementary School to discuss their award-winning graphic novel FRIZZY. After a short presentation, there were great conversations during the Q&A portion of the event in both English and Spanish. The event was in partnership with Petworth-based Loyalty Bookstore.

“We're proud to be neighbors here in Ward 4, and visit Dorothy Heights ES, Barnard ES, West EC, Bruce Monroe ES, Truesdell ES, MacFarland MS, Roosevelt HS and many more schools nearby. We also partner with Loyalty Books and often collaborate on events,” Barnes Eliot said.

If you are interested in helping, visit anopenbookfound.org for more information and opportunities to donate. Other ways the local community has helped support An Open Book is by visiting Loyalty Bookstore on Upshur Street in Petworth, where patrons had the opportunity to purchase books that will go to the students during their author visits.

Barnes Eliot and the whole team at An Open Book are passionate promoters of childhood literacy. “We believe that ALL young people should have access to great books and the opportunities to connect with the people that create them,” she said. “We feel honored to be meeting with students who are the storytellers of the future.”