Book Joy

On International Literacy Day 2026, we turned the page on something four years in the making: Book Joy.

What began with an idea—and seed money from memorial donations made in honor of Jerry Jasper, longtime Washington Parks director—is now enhancing the effort to provide local mobile school book fairs, bringing the joy of reading to more children throughout our communities. Building on the work already being done through Neighborhood Reads, Book Joy will help us reach more kids, in more places, with more opportunities to discover a book they can call their own.

Jerry was a lifelong champion of reading. He believed books could change lives and that every child deserved the joy of a great story. Jerry’s Book Joy carries that belief forward, one book and one child at a time.

We’re incredibly proud to launch this legacy project with the Washington Lions Club as our partner. Together, we’re creating opportunities for children to choose stories that spark their imaginations and connect the joy of reading with the importance of healthy vision.

Jerry’s Book Joy Bucks are the heart of this project—giving kids the opportunity to walk into a school book fair, browse the shelves and choose a new book that speaks to them. Because every child deserves that feeling of finding their book.

The trailer is a tribute to Jerry and his belief in the power of reading. It’s a vital message about the importance of sharing Book Joy with kids and it is officially ready to roll, beautifully wrapped with artwork created by acclaimed cartoonist and illustrator Kevin Cannon.

This is more than a bookmobile.

It’s more than a book fair.

It’s a legacy built around books, belonging and the belief that every child should have the chance to fall in love with reading.

Welcome to Book Joy.

How it started

Brought to life in collaboration with cartoonist and illustrator Kevin Cannon, who created the artwork of Jerry reading to his grandchildren, and Ziglin Sign’s terrific wrapping.

Community backing

Jerry was a member of the Washington Lions Club for 41 years and was honored as a lifetime member in 2023. It was a natural fit to ask the Washington Lions Club to partner with us to share Book Joy through our mobile book fairs and Jerry’s Book Joy Bucks — ensuring more children have access to books of their own. We are forever grateful to the Lions for giving this idea the wings it needed to launch.

Pictured below are (1) Community Literacy Foundation board members Dawn Kitchell and Lesley (Jasper) Liesman presenting to the Lions club, (2) Robbie Jasper and Lesley (Jasper) Liesman, children of Jerry Jasper, (3) Washington Lions Club members standing next to the trailer and (4) Jerry Book Joy Bucks that will allow kids to pick out their own book fair books and other treasures.

How it’s going

Book Joy is officially underway! We kicked off the school year on September 8th with our first book fair. We’ll visit a dozen schools before the end of 2026—and we’re just getting started. In partnership with the Lions and Neighborhood Reads, we're proud to pledge over $10,000 in brand-new books to kids across our community this school year!

Pictured below is (1) the family of Jerry Jasper, (2) Jerry’s wife, Roxann Jasper, (3) Jerry’s grandkids pointing to their cartoon selves, (4) Dawn Kitchell unveiling the design to Roxann Jasper, (5) Neighborhood Reads employees setting up the first book fair, and students enjoying the assortment of books.

Photo credits:

Special thanks to Jeanne Miller-Wood and Ziglin Signs for sharing photos that helped bring our story to life!