About Us
Our Mission
Joy for Books (J4B) champions culturally diverse children’s books as a pathway to literacy.
Who We Are
Joy for Books is a 501c3 nonprofit book donation organization that expands children’s access to high-quality, culturally diverse books through intentional curation and educator-centered distribution.
The Problem We Address: The Literacy Engagement Gap
Joy for Books addresses a literacy engagement gap driven by inconsistent access to culturally diverse children’s books and limited support for using those books intentionally in learning environments. When students do not see themselves reflected in the texts they read, engagement declines—and engagement is foundational to reading growth.
The Challenge
Across schools, libraries, and community-based literacy programs, access to culturally authentic and representative children’s literature remains uneven. Students from historically underrepresented communities often do not see their identities, cultures, and lived experiences reflected in the texts used during instruction, programming, and reading enrichment.
When representation is missing, students are less likely to read voluntarily, reducing exposure to complex vocabulary and slowing comprehension growth. Research shows that reading volume is one of the strongest predictors of literacy growth; students who read more frequently build vocabulary and background knowledge at a faster rate.¹
Our Approach: Curated Book Collections
Rather than distributing books in bulk, we intentionally curate titles that reflect diverse identities, cultures, and experiences while meeting high standards for authenticity and quality. Each title is evaluated using a 17-point structured rubric to ensure representation, literary merit, and developmental appropriateness before we donate it.
By pairing these collections with educators and literacy leaders who activate them through instruction and storytime, we ensure books are not only distributed but meaningfully used to support reading growth.
The Evidence: Why This Matters
Research increasingly affirms that representation and relevance are directly connected to literacy outcomes. A 2023 study by First Book found that access to culturally relevant and diverse books is associated with increased student engagement and measurable improvements in reading performance.³
Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors
We ground our work in the framework developed by scholar Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop. She highlights the importance of children seeing their own identities reflected in literature (mirrors) while also encountering stories that broaden their understanding of others (Windows).⁵
When students consistently engage with books that reflect their identities and broaden their perspectives, they are more likely to build reading stamina, strengthen comprehension, and develop academic confidence. Ensuring that students both receive and meaningfully engage with diverse books is not an enrichment strategy—it is a literacy strategy.
Meet the Board
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Joy E. Triche
FOUNDER & BOARD PRESIDENT
With a career built on operational excellence and instructional strategy, Joy draws on a nearly decade-long tenure at National Geographic School Publishing to lead the mission of Joy for Books. As the owner of JET Ed Consulting and Tiger Stripe Publishing, she has published nearly a dozen children’s books featuring BIPOC characters and has established strategic partnerships with the American Library Association and The Library Project. Currently the Senior Learning Solutions and Strategy Manager at Redwood Logistics, she bridges corporate expertise with community impact to ensure every student sees themselves—and others—reflected in the literature they encounter in their classrooms.
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Arthur N. Turnbull
BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
Leveraging a strong background in technical program management and resource coordination, Arthur provides critical operational oversight to the Joy for Books mission. Currently with Arturo Solo LLC, he has spent his career managing complex technical initiatives and streamlining stakeholder communications across diverse internal teams. His experience in overseeing large-scale infrastructure and program development allows him to guide the organization's growth with technical precision. Arthur is committed to scaling the reach of Joy for Books, ensuring the organizational systems are in place to meet the growing national demand for inclusive children's literature.
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Jean Zartner
BOARD SECRETARY
Jean has a master's degree as a K-12 Reading Specialist. She taught 7th grade developmental and remedial reading classes for 11 years. Then she became an instructional designer, creating corporate training programs. For the past 15 years, she has helped college faculty create courses. She lives in Denver, Colorado, and enjoys hiking and driving in the mountains. She spends a lot of time enjoying books and movies. She teaches ballroom, swing, and country-western dancing and goes dancing several times a week.
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Janet Beason Ed.D.
BOARD TREASURER
Janet is an educator with degrees from The Ohio State and Arizona State Universities. During her many years as an educator, she taught first grade, and grades four through eight. She has taught in schools all over — Caribou, Maine; Omaha, Nebraska; Evanston, Illinois; Marysville, California; and Izmir, Turkey. Janet worked in the Avondale School District in Arizona for 30 years as a teacher, computer coordinator, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. Currently, in her retirement, she works as adjunct faculty and supervises student teachers for Rio Salado College. Janet is the member of several boards in addition to Joy for Books.
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Raquel Monroe, Ph.D.
BOARD MEMBER
Raquel is the Dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University. An interdisciplinary performance scholar, artist, and mother, Raquel’s work bridges strategic resource stewardship with deep cultural impact. Previously, she served as Associate Dean at the University of Texas at Austin and held leadership roles at Columbia College Chicago, where she developed equity-driven policies for faculty hiring and institutional growth. Her research focuses on Black performance theory and African diasporic aesthetics as vehicles for social change. As an artist, she is a member of the Propelled Animals collective, presenting site-responsive work internationally.
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Ari Ramsey
BOARD MEMBER
Ari is a finance and operations executive with deep expertise in healthcare, nonprofit, and multi-entity organizational management. Ari has led organizations at a CFO-level through major financial transformations, system implementations, and strategic planning initiatives, serving in senior leadership roles overseeing accounting, budgeting, compliance, and board-level reporting. Her work includes building scalable financial infrastructures, strengthening internal controls, and improving decision-making through transparent, data-driven processes. Ari is committed to advancing equity and expanding resources for underserved communities through strong financial stewardship and mission-centered leadership.
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Ela Aktay
BOARD MEMBER
Ela began her career in educational publishing over 30 years ago. She is an education consultant, learning designer, and curriculum developer and has led the development of large, multi-component print and digital learning programs. Over her career, she has worked with National Geographic Learning, Encyclopedia Britannica, and Scholastic to create engaging learning experiences accessible for all students. Ela is also a writer and a certified meditation facilitator. Her favorite children’s books are The Snowy Day by Ezra Keats and Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.
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LaArnie Lucas
BOARD MEMBER
LaArnie has an extensive background in creating strategic partnerships which focus on building and restructuring organizations in both the private and non-profit sectors. She brings a unique perspective of over 30 years combined education and experience in business administration, human resources, and information technology. She has demonstrated her genuine passion to serve children and young adults in the underserved communities of Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tempe, and Tucson, Arizona.