EVERY CHILD DESERVES A BOOK BEFORE SUMMER BEGINS

We are raising funds to put 1,000+ copies of Going to the Festival into the hands of 3rd graders across 10 Massachusetts communities before school lets out for summer.

DEADLINE: Books must be ordered before the last day of school so children have them ready for summer reading.

WHO WE ARE

My name is Jodi-Tatiana Charles, author, educator, and someone who believes deeply that books should be accessible to every child, not just the ones who can afford them.

I recently published my second children's book, Going to the Festival, a story rooted in community, culture, creativity, and the experiences that shape how children see themselves and the world around them.

THE STORY

Going to the Festival is a lively picture book that celebrates community, friendship, and the discoveries that happen when children take part in the traditions around them. When four friends, Beatriz, Tanner, Sebastian, and Danielle, stumble upon their town's annual summer festival, they quickly learn it is more than colorful booths and busy streets. It becomes a week shaped by creativity, curiosity, and the shared spirit of neighbors who make a place feel like home.

Through bright illustrations and a warm, engaging story, readers follow the four friends as they admire local art, meet new people, lend a hand, and experience the simple joy of being present. Going to the Festival reminds young readers that meaningful adventures are often closer than they think, found in shared experiences with friends, neighbors, and community.

Writing it reminded me of something I have always known: books are not just about reading. They are about connection, belonging, and helping children feel part of something larger than themselves.

That belief is what brought this campaign to life. I want every child on a summer reading list to have a book in their hands before the last bell rings. A book that looks like their community. A book that tells them their story matters.

THE NEED

Imagine being eight years old and not owning a single book. No dog-eared pages. No story you have read so many times the cover is worn soft. Just a long summer with nothing to read and a classroom waiting in September that you are already behind in.

That is the reality for tens of thousands of children across Massachusetts right now. In cities like Springfield, Lawrence, Holyoke, Brockton, and Lynn, the majority of 3rd graders are not reading at grade level. Not because they are not capable, but because they have not had the resources or the access.

A child who is not reading proficiently by the end of 3rd grade is four times less likely to graduate high school. A book in their hands this summer can begin to change that.

Summer reading loss is real. Children from low-income households can lose up to three months of reading progress over the summer simply because they do not have books at home. For kids already behind, that gap grows wider every year. This campaign is designed to close it, one book at a time, before summer even begins.

BY THE NUMBERS

58% of Massachusetts 3rd graders read below grade level

76% of low-income 3rd graders cannot pass the reading test

10 communities targeted where the need is greatest

1,000 books delivered before the last day of school

WHERE THE BOOKS ARE GOING

Springfield, Lawrence, Holyoke, Worcester, New Bedford, Brockton, Chelsea, Fall River, Lynn, and Salem.

OUR TIMELINE

Now: Campaign live, fundraising underway, reaching out to schools and community partners in all 10 cities.

Fundraising deadline. Books ordered immediately upon goal being reached.

June 13-20: Books delivered to schools and community partners before the last day of school.

Summer: Children reading, building skills, and heading back to school in September ready to learn.

HOW YOUR DONATION IS USED

Every dollar raised goes directly toward purchasing and delivering copies of Going to the Festival to schools, community programs, and local organizations in our 10 target cities. Many educators, caregivers, and community leaders are already doing everything they can with limited resources. This effort is designed to support them, not add to their burden.

If you would like your contribution directed toward a specific school, program, or community, please let us know in your donation message. We will do our best to honor that request and get books to the places that matter most to you.

We are also actively seeking businesses, organizations, foundations, and individuals who believe in the power of childhood literacy to partner with us. Through sponsorships and matching gifts, partners can help expand the reach of this effort and amplify the impact of community donations, ensuring that even more children receive books before summer begins.

Together, we can place books into the hands of young readers and help create a lifelong love of reading, learning, and community.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Going to the Festival by Jodi-Tatiana Charles

Illustrated by Julia Potvin

Published March 2026

• Hardcover ISBN: 9780999545850

• Paperback ISBN: 9780999545867

• eBook ISBN: 9780999545874

• Library of Congress Control Number: 2025924198

Learn more: https://www.lcgbrands.com/going-to-the-festival

Press Release: https://www.einpresswire.com/article/895834847/a-new-children-s-picture-book-celebrates-community-culture-and-the-power-of-participation

Media coverage:

Newspaper: https://marbleheadcurrent.org/2026/03/17/new-childrens-book-puts-marblehead-arts-festival-in-spotlight/

Television: https://vimeo.com/1197483502?fl=pl&fe=sh

Radio: https://www.audacy.com/magic1067/latest/jodi-tatiana-charles-on-exceptional-women

Podcast: https://readingwithyourkids.libsyn.com/going-to-the-festival-celebrating-community-memories-and-art

Every contribution helps put a book into a child's hands before summer begins and supports a larger effort to bring families, communities, and local experiences together through storytelling.

HOW FAR YOUR DONATION GOES

$15 puts 1 book into 1 child's hands

$75 puts books into the hands of 5 children

$150 stocks an entire classroom with 10 books

$500 reaches 33 children across one school

$1,000 brings 66 books to one community

$5,000 delivers 333 books across 3 cities

Thank you for being part of this.

Jodi