Join the Day Eight community for an evening of celebration as we launch our 2026 youth book, Thursday, November 19, from 6:00pm-7:30pm at the Shepherd Park Library, 7420 Georgia Avenue NW. This event will include reading by youth and faculty contributors to the book.
Please RSVP [LINK] to confirm your attendance.
Youth contributors to the book include: include Olivia Acors, Samantha Bender, Nili Berger, Samra Blagburn, Langston Blango, Madison Bolton, Savannah Brent, Ella Brown, Fernanda Cabrera-Gomez, Ariel Carter, Torrie Chavis, Anna Dedner, Micah Edwards, Gali Feinberg, Samantha Garces Caicedo, Lucas Halefom, Saron Halefom, Malachi Hall, Jack Harney, Janel Harris, Yao Harrison-Konan, Elise Henderson, Neteeru Huggins, Aaron Johnson, Layla Kirstein, Azel Lancaster, Doren Langhorne, Landon Langhorne, Tegan Langhorne, Talya Levisohn, Dieu-Donne Mapanda, Zephyr Martell, Maya Wang, Nina Melrose, Riley Merriott, Suah Morgan, Yassah Morgan, Wonder Muwonge, Makayla Neway, Maya Neway, Brendan Norton, Nolan Odeyele, David Owens, Elijah Perry, Reagan Perry, Karter Reid, Ava Rogers, Emi Hosaka Rogers, Zoey Ruckel, Kate Schwartz, Abigail Sultan, Briya Tanzer, Aline Thomas, Sofia Vasquez, Taryn Vidale, Sophie Weinberger. Additionally, the book includes poetry by Day Eight faculty poets Jennifer Helgeson, Regie Cabico, Rebecca Bishophall, Rodney Johnson, Susan Mockler, Jane Schapiro, Carolivia Herron, Jessica Genia Simon, Amuche Nwafor, and Sonya Springfield.
The 2026 youth book, edited by edited by Robert Bettmann, Elena Okon, and Olivia Ocran, includes nearly 150 poems by youth alongside writing by faculty associated with Day Eight’s poetry teams, women and girls writing program, Milton community writing project, and summer writing camp.
Families, friends, and community members are encouraged to attend and celebrate the accomplishments of these young writers. Each book contributor will receive a free copy of the book, available for pickup at the event, and copies of the book will also be available for sale.
Day Eight’s 2026 youth book was made possible by individual donors to Day Eight and grants from Learn24, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, ANC 4a, and the Friends of the Shepherd Park Library. To make a donation to support the 2026 youth book, visit the donation page on the Day Eight website here.