ColorPop Books, The One-Of-A-Kind Bookshop Powered by DonorsChoose, Launches To Build Representative Bookshelves At Home
ColorPop Books, the one-of-a-kind bookshop specializing in identity-affirming books and bundles for families, launches nationwide today. Established by education nonprofit DonorsChoose, ColorPop Books is the only children's bookshop founded by a nonprofit with access to teacher experts and expertise in childhood learning. ColorPop Books centers on the Black and Brown family experience, offering a resource for parents and caregivers seeking trustworthy, representative books as they navigate today's colorful and complex world with their kids.
In 2019, DonorsChoose launched the #ISeeMe initiative to increase the availability of affirming learning materials, particularly books, for children of color in US public schools. Through countless conversations, the team found that parents and teachers alike invest valuable time in finding books that speak to the topics of everyday life and show kids of color thriving in the world. DonorsChoose responded by creating ColorPop Books ? a trusted resource for parents and caregivers looking to increase their kids' at-home access to the validation and affirmation that comes from seeing oneself in a book.
"The children's book industry is lacking representation in both the stories being told, as well as the storytellers. Only 39% of kids books published in the U.S. in 2022 featured at least one character of color, and 71% of kids books have come from White creators. People of color, LGBTQ+ folks and parents and caregivers with nontraditional family structures constantly struggle to find books that represent their experiences and inspire their kids," said Vanessa Cardona Kepp, Director of ColorPop Books at DonorsChoose. "At ColorPop Books, we're working to build more representative bookshelves at home while helping diversify classroom libraries in the process. We aim to source books that are written and illustrated by creators whose lived experiences directly reflect their book content."
The roster of ColorPop Books authors is constantly expanding. At launch, some featured authors include Stacey Abrams, Amanda Gorman, Karamo Brown, Eva Chen, Nicole Byers, Matthew Cherry, Ibtihaj Muhammad and more.
ColorPop Book bundles are parent-tested and kid-approved. These curated bundles help parents foster open conversations around important topics and key moments with their kids. Retailing for $45 with three books and a kid-centered activity, current available book bundles include: The ColorPop Book Bundle, The Girls in STEM Book Bundle, The Pride Book Bundle, The Being Brave Bundle, The Safe and Secure Bundle, The Grief Book Bundle, The Let's Talk About Race Bundle, The Black Joy Bundle, The Latinx Voices Month Book Bundle, The Neurodivergent Book Bundle, and The Indigenous Stories Book Bundle, with more to come. Bundle purchases also include additional resources such as a self-portrait activity book, ColorPop affirmation card and access to the ColorPop caregiver and parent community.
"ColorPop Books are what we believe deserve to be the new classics. The topics covered in our books are universally important, and help kids build empathy while creating a valuable, joyful reading experience," said Abby Feuer, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at DonorsChoose. "Over 90% of books in the ColorPop bookshop feature people of color as main characters. Embracing the rich tapestry of human experiences, we are dedicated to curating a selection of books that affirm and inspire kids through stories."
ColorPop Books also ensures that children in historically underfunded schools, without access to these books, receive a classroom library that reinforces their experiences and opens their minds. With each ColorPop book bundle purchased, $5 is donated to ColorPop Books' Book Donation Fund, which brings identity-affirming books directly into US public schools.
ColorPop Books can be purchased online exclusively at www.colorpopbooks.com.
About ColorPop Books:
ColorPop Books is the one-of-a-kind bookshop specializing in identity-affirming book bundles for families. Powered by DonorsChoose, ColorPop Books takes the burden off of parents to fill their bookshelves with enriching, representative books that build confidence and empathy. ColorPop Book bundles cover varied and universal topics that families are exploring with their kids - from the exploration of identity and courage to navigating grief and building self-confidence. ColorPop Books can be purchased online exclusively at www.colorpopbooks.com.
About DonorsChoose:
DonorsChoose is the leading way to give to public schools. Since 2000, 5.7 million people and partners have contributed over $1 billion to support more than 2.5 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences. As the most trusted crowdfunding platform for teachers, donors, and district administrators alike, DonorsChoose vets each request, ships the funded resources directly to the classroom, and provides thank yous and reporting to donors and school leaders. Charity Navigator and GuideStar have awarded DonorsChoose, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, their highest ratings for transparency and accountability.
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