Education
Education

Atlanta students given books for summer reading

By Mark Niesse
May 5, 2014

Each student at Dunbar Elementary in Atlanta’s Mechanicsville neighborhood picked 12 books each last week that they took home for summer reading.

The books were distributed through Athens-based Books for Keeps in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools and the Annie E. Casey Foundation Civic Site in Atlanta.

After Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal greeted students, they had between 20 and 30 minutes to browse books before carrying them home in a tote bag provided by Books for Keeps.

Books for Keeps Executive Director Leslie Hale said children need access to books during the summer to avoid learning loss while they’re out of school.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Athletes run drills during the fifth annual Girls Flag Football Showcase hosted by the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, chaired by Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank, announced Wednesday $6.3 million in grants for flag football and other programs at several metro Atlanta school districts. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Blank Foundation to give $6 million to sports programs in metro Atlanta schools

The foundation, in partnership with Atlanta United, the Atlanta Falcons and the PGA Tour Superstore, will provide the funding to six school districts over three years.

Effort to overhaul ‘woke’ college accreditation system raises questions. Here’s what it means.

The Trump administration has repeatedly criticized accreditors. Its desire for new ones raises questions.

Two Georgia universities joining new, controversial accreditor

Columbus State and Georgia Southern are among the 10 schools joining a new accreditation agency, the Commission for Public Higher Education.

The Latest

Athletes run drills during the fifth annual Girls Flag Football Showcase hosted by the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, chaired by Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank, announced Wednesday $6.3 million in grants for flag football and other programs at several metro Atlanta school districts. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Blank Foundation to give $6 million to sports programs in metro Atlanta schools

Effort to overhaul ‘woke’ college accreditation system raises questions. Here’s what it means.

Two Georgia universities joining new, controversial accreditor

Featured

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testifies before a state Senate committee at the Capitol in Atlanta on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Fani Willis blasts Senate panel in contentious hearing

The Fulton County district attorney struck a defiant tone in early questioning before a Georgia Senate committee Wednesday.

EXCLUSIVE

Atlanta’s SweetWater 420 Fest on the move again with a new venue for 2026

The SweetWater 420 Fest is moving to its fourth location in five years, finding a new home on the Westside of Atlanta.

Fatal mauling causes animal control changes in Fulton County

Horrific attack reveals weaknesses with LifeLine reporting incidents. County police will now field animal control calls.