An Open Book Foundation

Our Mission: Connecting Washington, DC-area students with authors, illustrators, and their books to build equitable access and nurture a lifelong love of reading.

Our Vision: Children see themselves as readers, who use their written and visual literacy skills to navigate a complex world and define their own future.

An Open Book Foundation supports literacy through several programs. Some programs offer breadth - our Flagship Program reaches more than 10,000 students annually, bringing authors and illustrators into classrooms where they share their books and insights into their journeys as writers or artists. After every presentation, each student receives a copy of the book for their home collection, and has the opportunity to have a short one-on-one conversation with the author while getting their book signed, creating personal connections that are inspiring the next generation of storytellers. AOB also gives copies of the author's additional titles to the classroom and school libraries, extending the impact of the event beyond the day. Other programs offer depth - including extension activities, Artist-in-Residence, and STEM Residence multi-day workshops. We partner with schools where at least 50% of the students qualify for the National School Lunch Program.