Books For Keeps: 2025-2026 School Year

BOOKS FOR KEEPS: 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR!

RIF NOVA's primary activity is our Books for Keeps program -- to provide new books for 23,000 children at over 30 schools and sites in the City of Alexandria and in Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William counties. Books are distributed by school liaisons at book celebrations throughout the school year. Distributions for academic year 2025-2026 began in September 2025, with the addition of a brand new school in the RIF NOVA family -- Braddock Elementary. Below, please find photos as they are added from throughout the school year.

Spring into Spring Break at Dumfries ES -- March 27, 2026

"Dumfries Elementary had a fantastic day," reported reading specialist Emily Decarolis. "We were able to Spring into Spring Break and give each student from Pre-K to 5th grade TWO brand new books provided by a RIF NOVA / RIF grant. We gave out 840 books to our 420 students on this last day of school before spring break. Students came down by class to select from the books, including many culturally and linguistically diverse books. Many students said they couldn't wait to go home and read over their 10 days off of school. In fact, many students sat down and started reading immediately!"

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Bel Air Hosts a Flower Festival -- March 25, 2026

With coffee filters, markers, scissors, and imagination, children at PWC's Bel Air Elementary turned a pre-spring break book choosing celebration into a floral art fair! Creativity + picking a RIF NOVA book for keeps...such an inspirational beginning to spring! Special thanks to librarian and RIF NOVA liaison Clifton Palmer for leading the charge on this festival of floral fun!

Paper Planes and Page Turners -- Polk Owls Engineer Flight to New Books!
March 23-27, 2026

Paper airplanes went flying at Alexandria's Polk ES as children learned about some of the early pilots who changed the skies forever. As part of the school's STEM week celebration, each child crafted an airplane and then tried to fly it to see whose creation could fly the farthest, adding paper clips to add or subtract weight as part of the experiment. The competition was fierce! Third through fifth graders heard a book about Harriet Quimby, the first woman to fly solo over the English channel. Younger grades heard a book about Amelia Earhart. The young Owl-gineers learned about failure and trying again to make their planes fly, just as real-life scientists do. Picking a RIF NOVA book to take home to read over spring break made the fun even more...fun!

Spring into a New Book at the FCMLCC -- March 23, 2026

Spring into a New Book! Children at the Falls Church McLean Children's Center did just that with book readings by volunteers from the New Dominion Women's Club, crafting clever thank you notes and posters in each classroom, and picking TWO new books to take home for keeps -- thanks to a RIF / RIF NOVA grant! "We are so appreciative of the partnership. Our kids love the books that your organizations provide. The books allow our children to have literacy opportunities at home with their families," wrote Hallye Smith, FCMLCC's director. Assistant Director Megan Ling wrote, "We deeply appreciate RIF and RIF of NOVA’s continued support in spreading the importance of early literacy and increasing our students’ home libraries."

Winter Olympic Fun at Arlington's Even Start -- February 25, 2026

The winning Winter Olympic teams had nothing on children and parents at Arlington's Even Start Family Literacy program! Participants in this RIF NOVA Books for Keeps distribution were able to try their hands at hockey, curling (okay, an air hockey table), and even snowboarding in a room full of Olympic decorations, while national anthems played in the background as winners earned their medals.

Program coordinator and RIF NOVA liaison Sara Mulrooney noted the fun everyone had as they got their medals and showed off their new books. Maybe we'll see some of these athletes at the Winter games in 2030! Even Start is a free family literacy program for Arlington Public School parents who are learning English and have children under the age of 10.

Fall in Love with a Good Book at Innovation ES -- February 24 & 25, 2026

Children at PWC's Innovation Elementary School were able to choose two "good books" at a celebration called Fall in Love with a Good Book. One book was provided by RIF NOVA's Books for Keeps program. A second book was funded by a grant from The Giving Circle of Heritage Hunt, Inc., for which we are very grateful! Thanks to Title 1 literacy teacher and RIF NOVA liaison Marsha Schwartz for making all the arrangements. Some of the children got right down to comparing their new book choices!

A 100th Day Love Fest at Dumfries ES -- February 13, 2026

What do Valentine's Day and the 100th day of school have in common? A RIF NOVA book distribution! Children at PWC's Dumfries Elementary chose books from the RIF NOVA Books for Keeps program to take home to own. Many sported buttons saying "100 Days Smarter." Others dressed to look as if they were 100 years old -- with mustaches, canes, pearls, and spray gray hair! Okay, they did not look 100, but they were definitely sharing the love -- of books -- thanks to RIF NOVA liaison Emily Decarolis and Title 1 reading teacher Meredith Hudson.

All Aboard the Reading Express at John Adams ES -- December 15-19, 2025

As a train whistle sounded, children at Alexandria's John Adams ES moved from "station" to "station" -- with a new train-related activity at each table. There was a train puzzle, circuit building, engine constructing, and train image coloring -- along with writing the name of your favorite book on an engine image to become part of a paper train around the library. Reading was possible, too, in a train car arranged from the library's couches. Thanks to librarian and RIF NOVA liaison Heidi Laplace for getting this RIF NOVA book picking train trip off to a great holiday start!

Blizzard of Books at Bailey's Elementary -- December 15-19, 2025

The Pre-K through 2nd graders at Fairfax County's Bailey's Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences went "shopping" in a blizzard -- of books! Librarian and RIF NOVA liaison Laura Culver set up several areas around the library where students could pick just the right book to take home for the winter break. In a library decorated for the season, Ms. Culver read seasonal stories to the younger children, who listened attentively and were happy to show off the results of their shopping "spree"!

Snuggle with a Book at Barcroft ES -- December 17 & 18, 2025

With a colorful bulletin board outside the library and stuffed toys and animals waiting for them inside, the children of Arlington's Barcroft Elementary chose their Books for Keeps books. Clad in their PJs, they perused the tables of book choices and then retreated to the library's reading nook to cuddle up and share their new book with a "stuffie." Such a fun way to head toward the winter break, with a new book in hand, shared with a new animal friend. Special thanks to librarian and RIF NOVA liaison Jackie Pippins for setting up a sleepover to be remembered!

Kenmore's "Cougar Cafe" of Books -- December 17, 2025

Pre-holiday book "shopping" offered special fun for the students at Kenmore Middle School. Co-librarian Melissa Cline set up the library, known this day as the "Cougar Cafe," with cafe tables and checkered table cloths full of books organized by genre. Not only could the Kenmore Cougars pick a favorite from any section, they could also have a book plate calligraphed with their name, thanks to library assistant Jeanette Hall. A new RIF NOVA book to start the holidays. What could be better!

"Colorful Mondays" at Lynbrook ES -- December 16, 2025

Lynbrook kindergarteners found a "bookmobile" full of new books in their library as librarian and RIF NOVA liaison Jessica Bombardier welcomed them to their winter book celebration. As the children settled onto the reading rug, they listened to Colorful Mondays, an empowering story based on a real bookmobile in Honduras. With bright images of Central America still in their heads, the children picked out their new RIF NOVA books, happy the books would be theirs to keep over winter break -- and beyond!

Blizzard of Books at Charles R. Drew Elementary -- December 12, 2025

With "Elsa" leading the charge, children entered Arlington's Charles R. Drew library with visions of snowflakes dancing in their heads! Drew Dragons eagerly listened to stories of the season about Hanukkah, Christmas, gingerbread characters, and snow, with many reading The Story of Snow; The Science of Winter's Wonder as part of their science studies.

Special readers from Delta Sigma Theta, RIF NOVA, and Arlington schools gathered children in front of the roaring "fire" to share stories with eager listeners. Then, it was time to pick a RIF NOVA book to take home to keep! Hmmm! So many choices! After picking their books, 5th graders wrote their selections on snowflakes they had created -- to be posted throughout the school as book recommendations for younger readers. This annual book distribution is always one to remember, thanks to librarian and RIF NOVA liaison Dora Sue Black and library assistant Kirstin Lawler.

Readers from Delta Sigma Theta read to children in front of the "fire."

Hmmm. So many book choices!

APS Library Supervisor Amy Hailey

"Unlock your Superpowers" at Marumsco Hills ES -- December 8-12, 2025

With images of superheroes pow-ing, wow-ing, and ka-booming throughout the library, children at this PWC school read or heard stories about superheroes, while inspired by a graphic exhorting them to unlock their own superpowers. Students designed their own superhero cape and then chose a RIF NOVA book to take home to keep -- many of them about, you guessed it, superheroes! Thanks to superhero librarian Jessica Nelson (who donned a superhero cape herself!) for this wham, boom, (and very fun) book distribution!

"Hooray for Holidays" at Vaughan ES -- December 8-12, 2025

It was beginning to look a lot like...Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah, and Christmas at Vaughan Elementary School as part of a celebration called Hooray for Holidays! Through poetry writing, code breaking, symbol matching, and more, children could fill out brain-teaser pages featuring a range of holidays -- some familiar and some not familiar at all! And then it was time to pick a RIF NOVA Books for Keeps book! Thanks to librarian and RIF NOVA liaison Donna McDonald for getting Vaughan children into every type of holiday spirit.

Snow Globes at Bel Air Elementary -- December 9-10, 2025

What can you make with a plastic cup, some winter scenes and characters, cotton balls, glitter, and straws to blow the glitter (er, snow!) around? A snow globe! And that's exactly what children at Bel Air Elementary in PWC made as part of their RIF NOVA Books for Keeps winter distribution. The kids fashioned works of art before picking two books of their very own to take home for the holiday period. Library assistant Tracy Beach and librarian and RIF NOVA liaison Clifton Palmer were the creative "glue" for this very inventive fun-for-all!

Rhyming + Bingo = Fun at Potomac View -- December 1-4, 2025

Credit -- Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Author: Avery Monsen; Illustrator: Abby Hanlon

A reading of Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme had Potomac View children laughing and pondering what is a rhyme anyway! As librarian Kevin Rock and reading specialist and RIF NOVA liaison Debbie Crawn read the story, children looked at the book's pictures to figure out which words rhymed and which did not! After filing through the library's "tunnel," the children entered a room festooned with color and magic. Each got a specially made bingo card with rhyming words to test their knowledge. Picking two RIF NOVA book for keeps rounded out this amazing annual Potomac View event! Bingo winners were able to choose a third book to take home to love!

Secret Gifts at Yorkshire Elementary School -- November 24 & 25, 2025

What is your secret gift? Before Thanksgiving, children at Prince William County's Yorkshire Elementary had a chance to write on a paper pumpkin about their special qualities or what they'd like to do better. "I'd like to get better at math," one child wrote, "because it's really hard." RIF NOVA liaison Bethany Drake read The Pumpkin Seed's Secret to get children into the holiday spirit. They were each able to choose a new RIF NOVA book for keeps...and if they met a challenge to read three books over the break, they could earn a meal from Texas Roadhouse. Extra reading, extra fun, and extra yummy!

"Balloons Over Broadway" at Polk Elementary -- November 13-19, 2025

Credit: Publisher -- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Author/Illustrator -- Melissa Sweet

A pre-Thanksgiving Books for Keeps book distribution at Alexandria's Polk Elementary included the reading of Balloons over Broadway -- the story of Tony Sar, the master puppeteer who invented the first balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. With this as inspiration, 3rd through 5th graders used balloons, construction paper, straws, and crazy eyes to make their own balloon creations. Younger children drew theirs on paper plates. Characters ranged from Pete the Cat to Clifford the Big Red Dog to Pikachu, and way more! The artistry was over the top amazing! Thanks to co-liaisons Kathryn Harrington and Catie Brownback and librarian Mark Tierney for such a truly amazing RIF NOVA book distribution. Mr. Tierney produced a video to capture the creativity! Click here for that!

"The Leaf Thief" at Parklawn Elementary -- November 14, 2025

Parklawn Elementary School's Pre-K teachers Lorri Cullen and Kait Falco invited parents and siblings to their fall celebration. The children demonstrated that they knew all about this season as they listened to The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming and quickly figured out that Squirrel's leaves were being stolen by the wind, not the other forest animals. After decorating pumpkins with paint or tissue squares, they took their families out to the hallway where they picked out their RIF NOVA book, excited that this would be their very own book, to keep forever!

"Fall into a Good Book" at Sinclair Elementary -- November 5-7, 2025

Students at Sinclair Elementary in PWC were able to "Fall into a Good Book" at their at RIF NOVA book distribution. As the children picked their books, they noted on a leaf their own favorite to recommend to others. Each leaf was inscribed with the words, "A book I fell for is..." Such fun to decorate a leaf and think of a book title to share, while choosing a book of their very own! Thanks to Title 1 teacher Dawn Pell for setting up this fun fall book festival!

Halloween at ACCA! Boo-ti-full!!! -- October 31, 2025

Halloween at the ACCA Child Development Center each year is a full-on schoolwide affair with children, administrators, teachers, parents, and RIF NOVA volunteers in pretty amazing Halloween regalia. From a dance party at the front door to book readings to trick-or-treating in the halls to book picking, this is a RIF NOVA Books for Keeps book distribution everyone will long remember!

Halloween at Arlington Teen Parenting: A Treat for Little Readers!
-- October 31, 2025

Halloween at the Arlington Teen Parenting program is always a celebration ... with costumes, treats, and a parade around the school -- plus books for all the babies and toddlers and their parents! Kids got to choose two books each and parents got to choose one. Books matter -- at the start! Special thanks to RIF NOVA liaison Nicole Boatwright for staging this annual Halloween book fest!

Fall Family Fun Celebration: Woodlawn ES Head Start Program -- October 31, 2025

When singalongs, playdough, and apple art come together, it's a Fall Family Fun Celebration! Preschoolers in this Fairfax Head Start program shared songs with moms, dads, grandparents, and siblings, showing they could sing with gusto in both English and Spanish. Then they used pumpkin seeds to show off their counting skills, playdough to make pumpkins, and cut-up apples as painting tools to make designs in fall colors. To top off the festival, each child was able to pick a RIF NOVA-provided book to take home to keep! Thanks to Devon Prior and Woodlawn's staff and volunteers for creating such a fun event!

Woodley Hills: "Fall into a New Book" -- October 29, 2025

Woodley Hills Elementary School in Fairfax County celebrated the season with a "Fall into a New Book" party. As children came into the library, they realized this was no ordinary visit as they found tables covered with new books. "Oh my goodness," one child exclaimed. "Do we need to pay for these?" Another child, remembering last year's RIF NOVA book distribution, explained, "They are free and you don't have to bring them back!" After selecting their books, the students celebrated by making pipe cleaner bracelets with fall colored bead patterns, creating little monsters from playdough, or dot painting the character from The Monster Ate My Peas. Thanks to RIF NOVA liaison Jill Connors for staging this fun fall book fest!

Falls Church McLean Children's Center -- October 22, 2025

The RIF NOVA fall book distribution at the FCMLCC is always such a treat for the some of our smallest readers as they pick out a book of their own. RIF NOVA partner, the New Dominion Women's Club, handed out books and read to the children -- adding to the fun! How wonderful to share the power of books with young children to start the reading habit early (and often)!

"Fall into Reading" at West Gate Elementary -- October 10, 2025

"Fall into Reading" was the theme, and book picking was the activity for students at PWC's West Gate Elementary. Children at every class level were excited to choose a book to keep -- with tables of diverse choices ranging from picture books to early readers to graphic novels. One visually impaired student was even able to choose a book in braille. Thanks to RIF NOVA liaison Susan Bowden and reading teacher Danielle Van Vlack for making this RIF NOVA distribution such a treat for more than 500 students!

"EGG-Cited about Soaring into Science with Reading!"
Braddock Elementary School -- September 30, 2025

RIF NOVA was delighted to welcome Braddock Elementary into the family of schools we support with our Books for Keeps books. In a welcome kick-off event, the school's Eagle mascot, RIF NOVA mascot Clifford, Mrs. Virginia 2023, representatives from the Fairfax County school board, and a host of Braddock teachers and RIF NOVA board members gathered in a packed cafeteria of third graders, followed by classroom visits for more book picking!

The children colored paper eggs before the event as bookmarks. And then...such excitement as the children learned they would each take home a new science book of their very own! What a great way to start a new Books for Keeps academic year! Special thanks to Joyce Matthews, XSTREAM Programs Coordinator, for arranging this oh-so-special launch!

BOOKS FOR KEEPS: 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR!

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