Books are a vehicle for social justice.J.C. Tamno Books Foundation • Maryland & African Communities
Literacy • Identity • Opportunity

Books open worlds.
Children shape them.

We expand equitable access to books, cultivate young authors, preserve Indigenous languages and build learning experiences that help children imagine—and author—their own futures.

2017The idea took root
2 ContinentsLocal and global reach
5 ProgramsBooks to authorship
1 MissionLiteracy as justice
Why books?

A book can change the trajectory of a child’s life.

The Foundation began with a simple belief: access to books is often the first step toward expanding a child’s imagination, confidence and opportunity. From an early mentoring project inspired by The Other Wes Moore to a defining encounter with Congressman John Lewis, our story has always centered on books as instruments of leadership and social change.

Read Our Story
Founder Rick Tamno with Congressman John Lewis
“Books do more than tell stories.”
They inspire dreams, cultivate leadership and connect young people to transformative ideas.
The $1 Million Fundraiser

Build the next chapter with us.

Help scale home libraries, author visits, children’s writing programs and book access initiatives across underserved communities.

Make a Gift
Campaign progressGoal: $1,000,000
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Field notes

Ideas, research and stories from the work.

Children writing
Language preservation

Empowering African Children to Write Against Neocolonialism

Why mother-tongue authorship preserves memory, identity and cultural inheritance.

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Children’s authorship workshop
Children’s authorship

What Happens When We Celebrate Children as Writers

A closer look at spaces where children write from their lived experiences.

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Parent and child reading
Early literacy

Addressing the Million-Word Gap

How early read-alouds equip babies with an invisible toolbox for lifelong learning.

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Funders & partners

Progress is built in partnership.

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