Braille Books Program
The Braille Books Program provides blind children a free Braille book every month from a popular children's reading series.
Since 1997, more than 318 titles from popular children's reading series have been distributed to thousands of blind children. Last year, the program provided more than 45,000 Braille books to blind children and classrooms across the country.
Through the Braille Books Program, blind children can discuss the newest book or magazine with their classmates and build their very own collection of books from popular children's reading series, just like their sighted friends.
This Year's Books: My Weirder School
Every year, we break new ground by offering fresh and interesting titles and series that are sometimes overlooked in the Braille community.
Starting January 2020, we began distributing UEB Braille copies of My Weirder School, written by Dan Gutman and illustrated by Jim Paillot. Read the 2020 press release.
Born in New Jersey, Dan Gutman spent his early writing career writing sports books, but he decided he wanted to write children's books and we are glad that he did. His first children's book was Honus & Me. Dan has won many awards for his writing including the Sasquatch Award and the Keystone to Reading Book Award.
In My Weirder School, the students and teachers at Ella Mentry School are crazier than ever. There is a new student in Mr. Granite's class named A.J. and he causes quite a commotion. There's also a history teacher who has built a time machine. Every class day is zany antics and insane teachers. We think you will fall in love with this wonderful series of books!
The books are produced in contracted UEB Braille and children who sign up for the Braille Books Program will receive all twelve titles.
How to Enroll
To enroll, each applicant must be blind or low vision, and be a Braille reader. Please fill out our Braille Books Program online application, or use the Word version of our application to mail, fax, or email to the address below:
American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Braille Books Program
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Phone: 410-659-9315
Fax: 410-685-2340
Email: actionfund@actionfund.org
Next Year's Books
What would your students or children like to read in 2021?
Later this year, the Action Fund team will be choosing books for Brailling in the 2021 Braille Books Program. We choose books that have not been Brailled before and that are newly written (within the last two or three years). If we can find a series or chapter books, we love to get those in the hands of our readers.
Of course, we want books that are popular, that all would like to read, and that will suit both boys and girls.
If you have suggestions of titles for us to consider, please write to us at melissa@actionfund.org or call 410-659-9315.
How to Unsubscribe
To unsubscribe from the Braille Books Program or change your current information, including address, email, or telephone number, please email actionfund@actionfund.org or communityrelations@actionfund.org. You may also call 410-659-9315.
History of the Program
In 1997, the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults started the Braille Books Program to provide blind children a free Braille book every month from a popular children's reading series. The books are for the children to keep and collect for as long as they want them. The titles published every month are the same titles that are available in bookstores and public libraries everywhere. Since 1997, the program has produced over 318 titles in Braille and given them away to more than 20,000 subscribers.
Testimonials
"As a blind parent of three children, two blind and one sighted, I am always looking for books in Braille to read aloud. I very much appreciate receiving books from the American Action Fund, and my children also look forward to helping me rip open the envelope to discover what book is inside. Recently, I read Rat and Roach, Friends to the End to my two youngest children, ages four and two. My seven-year-old also sat down to listen about halfway through the story, after he heard us laughing."
"This book was enjoyable for everyone. The descriptions of the pictures helped us follow the story. This book had a great story to tell about how two very different animals can be friends, and how their friendship can persist even after a fight. I love books which help teach important life lessons, and I am sure I will pull this book out again at some point in order to help my children through rocky friendship issues. I also very much enjoyed watching my two-year-old, who is blind, running her fingers over the Braille in this book after I had finished reading it. Of course she wasn't really reading the words, but it was great to be able to share a wonderful story with her, and my other two children, and then to have her be able to experience the Braille in the book after the story was done."
To send your own testimonial, email us at actionfund@actionfund.org or communityrelations@actionfund.org. You may also call 410-659-9315. If you would like to provide us with additional feedback about our program, please use this short questionnaire.