Mission

Desert Ink Press, a project of Books for Classrooms, is committed to improving literacy for children from preschool through 12th grade by providing free, high-quality, relevant, age-appropriate, and educator-reviewed books and materials to educational organizations.

Led by members of the Tohono O’odham Nation, Desert Ink Press focuses on creating more O’odham-language books while also expanding to celebrate the many cultures connected to southern Arizona. Our vision is to grow as a nonprofit, multicultural, social service venture that uplifts communities through literature.

Our initial priority is providing free, high-quality books and teaching materials to Tohono O’odham students and families. Beginning in 2026, we will also publish multicultural books that strengthen understanding of the diverse cultures of the Santa Cruz River Valley, Arizona, and the southwest.

GOALS

Nurture New Voices – Encourage the growth of emerging multicultural authors and illustrators.

Preserve Language & Culture – Publish books that support the retention of the Tohono O’odham language and culture, and expand to help other Native American communities create works that preserve their own languages and traditions.

Expand Access to Diverse Books – Increase funding for Books for Classrooms to provide newly published, high-quality, diverse, age-appropriate books to Title I schools and community-based programs.

Create Publishing Opportunities – Offer a dedicated platform for multicultural Southwestern authors to share their stories.

Support Literacy in Southern Arizona – Provide engaging, diverse books to programs serving PreK–12 students within our designated service area.

Give Back Through Sales – Use proceeds from book sales to help Books for Classrooms deliver free books to low-income PreK–12 students in Pima County.

Saddle up for stories—exploring the Southwest, page by page.