40,000 Books Gifted Through MamaBear Publishing
Access to books in the home is one of the most important factors in supporting reading achievement and fostering a love of reading. That's why we are thrilled to share that, thanks to a generous, anonymous donor, approximately 40,000 picture books authored by Ashley Wall, have been gifted to the Foundation to help promote early literacy across our community. In this interview, you’ll meet Ashley Wall and MamaBear Books Publishing, a company that she and her husband created to inspire and empower children through books.
Ashley Wall, author and former Title I school teacher, was driven by her passion for improving education and literacy. Having witnessed the struggles of students in low-income communities, she felt compelled to create something that would help.
“I have always had a love for books and reading, which I passed on to my children,” said Ashley. “After reading thousands of books to them, I was inspired to write one myself. I wanted to create fun books about kids with big imaginations so that children would enjoy reading and want to read more and more. I also wanted to help other potential authors bring their stories to life. So, with my husband, we created MamaBear Books.”
The mission behind MamaBear Books is clear: to create fun and imaginative picture books that foster a lifelong love of reading. Ashley believes that when children can imagine and dream big, they are on the path to a bright future. The purpose of her books being, to inspire children to explore limitless possibilities.
“When children can imagine, they can change the world,” she says. “If they can imagine themselves as authors, doctors, or firefighters, they can become those things.”
Each book from MamaBear Books incorporates important themes like kindness, teamwork, and perseverance. Ashley highlights The Day I Had a Bulldozer, the main character Mikey, runs over a mailbox with his steamroller. Using what she describes as “funny mishaps” to promote perseverance. Through playful storytelling, children absorb valuable life lessons while having fun.
In addition to writing her own books, Ashley is dedicated to helping other aspiring authors bring their stories to life. By collaborating with talented illustrators like Vaughan Duck and Alana McCarthy, she brings characters and stories to life in ways that captivate young readers. Her own children, whose vivid imaginations inspired many of the storylines, play a personal role in her creative process.
Through this generous donation, MamaBear Books is helping to spread the joy of reading to children who need it most, promoting access to books and education for children across our community. We are delighted to partner with Ashley Wall and MamaBear Books as we work together to make literacy accessible to every child.