When Ashwinta Reddy Deo, a Promise Kindergarten teacher at Cordata Elementary, looked at the books on her classroom shelves, something was missing: stories that reflected the lives, languages, and cultures of her students.

“I have eight students with eight different languages in my class,” she said. “One of the books, Luli and the Language of Tea, made a huge difference because it’s something that is so relatable. It resonated with the students.” This simple but powerful story shows that kindness is universal, and that there are many ways to connect and communicate besides language.

Thanks to a grant from the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation, Ashwinta was able to purchase dozens of diverse and inclusive books—not just for her own classroom, but for teachers across the school. Titles like My Bollywood Dream, Sulwe, and Esperanza Rising are now regular features in classroom libraries from Pre-K to fifth grade.

Students immediately responded. One third grader returned again and again to a book “because it shows that she can change the world.” In Pre-K, a Punjabi student lights up when she finds My Bollywood Dream during reading time. “They love to look through the pictures. It’s a conversation starter.”

These books aren’t just changing reading time: they’re changing how students see themselves and each other. “It has helped students learn and understand about each other’s culture,” said Ashwinta. “It’s promoting empathy, fostering a sense of belonging. It helps marginalized students feel included and part of the Cordata family.”

Cordata’s school motto is simple: We belong and we are loved. Now, that message lives not only in morning announcements, but in the pages of every classroom library.

This project was made possible by the generosity of Foundation donors, people who believe that every child deserves to see their story reflected in the books they read. And for students who are just beginning to learn English, these books offer a powerful bridge. “In the first month or two of school, they do not want to sit down for a read-aloud,” Ashwinta shared. “But as time went by, and we used books that represent who they are, what they’re doing at home. That gets their interest there.”

When you fund a project like this, you’re not just buying books. You’re giving children the joy of recognition, the spark of connection, and the foundation to feel seen, valued, and ready to learn.