Nonprofit Organization
Our PROGRAMS
At As Told By Foundation, our programs turn stories into tools for growth and belonging. We expand access to culturally-relevant literature to ensure every reader can see themselves reflected on the page. By distributing free books and creating inclusive reading experiences, we strengthen comprehension, increase engagement, and empower students to see their identities and potential reflected in every story.
Book Club
Our Book Club program is offered as an after-school enrichment opportunity for students in 4th through 6th grade. Each participant receives their own copy of the selected book and meets weekly with our volunteers to engage in meaningful discussion, guided activities, and reflection designed to strengthen comprehension and critical-thinking skills.​
​Book clubs play a powerful role in literacy development because when students discuss texts with peers, they deepen comprehension, improve vocabulary, build confidence, and become more motivated readers. Collaborative reading experiences also support higher-level thinking by encouraging students to analyze characters, themes, and real-world connections in a supportive group setting.​
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All Book Club lessons are designed and overseen by a licensed Cincinnati Public Schools educator, ensuring that activities align with grade-level literacy standards and promote measurable growth.
Book Fairs
Every child deserves access to books—regardless of their family’s income. Our Free Book Fair was created with this belief at its core. We want students to experience the joy and excitement of a book fair without the worry of cost, and without families having to choose between essential expenses and literacy resources.​
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Giving children the freedom to choose their own books significantly increases their motivation to read and their likelihood of continuing to read independently, which is directly linked to stronger reading engagement
higher comprehension, and long-term literacy growth. Also, children with even a small home library show stronger reading performance and improved vocabulary development. For many families, especially those facing financial barriers, free access to books is a critical part of creating these opportunities.
We have successfully hosted five Free Book Fairs in Cincinnati Public Schools, ensuring every student walked away with two brand-new books, all completely free. By putting books directly into students’ hands and homes, we’re helping build a foundation for a lifelong love of reading.
Storytimes
Our story time program brings joyful, engaging read-aloud experiences directly into the classroom. Volunteers visit Kindergarten through 3rd-grade classrooms to share high-quality, culturally relevant books that reflect students’ identities, families, and lived experiences.
​Reading aloud is one of the most effective
ways to support early literacy development. Regularly hearing stories read aloud strengthens children’s language skills, builds vocabulary, improves attention span, and boosts early brain development. Read-aloud time increases motivation to read independently and supports stronger reading comprehension as students grow.
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At the end of each visit, every student receives their very own brand-new copy of the featured book to take home—helping build personal home libraries and reinforcing the powerful connection between hearing stories at school and continuing that love of reading at home.