for teachers and librarians
Every kid deserves to dream.
Bring Aku into your classroom with free activities, free virtual author visits, and ways to get books into your students’ hands.
Virtual visits are free. Always.
74 free printables. No login needed.
Secret codes, crosswords, word searches, coloring pages and design-your-own blueprints, all drawn from Aku: Journey to Ibra. Print one for a fast finisher or a stack for the whole class.
Browse all 74
Micah ensures every kid walks away feeling like they can achieve impossible dreams.
Virtual visits are free. Always.
Micah tells students how he went from professional baseball to art to writing Aku, including the parts that didn’t go well. Then he asks about their dreams and takes their questions.
Request a visit
How a visit gets booked.
You request a date.
This is a request. Nothing is booked yet.
We confirm by email.
Your visit is booked once you have our confirmation.
You get a link.
We send the video link before your visit.
Virtual, on Wednesdays and Fridays. In English or Spanish. Best for grades 3 to 8. In-person visits are arranged separately: email us to ask.
Want to support Aku?
Virtual school visits with Micah are free. No purchase or payment is required.
If your school has the resources, purchasing books for students or offering an optional author honorarium is always appreciated. There is no suggested amount and absolutely no obligation.
The goal is to connect with students and make great stories accessible to as many classrooms as possible.
To arrange either one, email the Aku team at [email protected].
What people are saying.
Christine O’Reilly, White Sox senior vice president of community relations“Micah is an inspiration to the next generation who see themselves in his stories and art.”
Middle school librarian“Several of the teachers said it was the best author visit we have ever had here.”
Middle school librarian“We have a lot of Spanish speaking students, so when you… answered him in Spanish, that meant so much to those students!”
Micah Johnson“My visits aren’t me reading at a podium… Kids don’t want to be preached to, they want to feel seen and an adult to be present. I talk about failure as much as I talk about success.”
More from teachers
School staff member, after a visit“He really listened to them, engaged with their questions, and made the experience feel special for everyone in the room.”
Classroom teacher, in an online review“I have started to create a mini-curriculum around Aku’s journey and students are very engaged. This is a great book for schools.”
More ways to take part.
Show us what your students created.
Upload a drawing, painting, or other artwork inspired by Aku. Photos or scans of artwork are welcome.
Send artwork
Ask the author.
Collect your class’s questions and send them over. Micah answers by email, and sometimes on video.
Send questions
Featured student art.
Artwork made by students and shared by their teachers and families.
Need books?
Two ways to get involved.
Have a DonorsChoose project?
Share your link for review. Eligible projects appear on our classroom board.
Share my projectSee the boardNo project yet?
Join our separate interest list. This doesn’t create a DonorsChoose project or guarantee books.
Add my classQuestions teachers ask.
What does a virtual visit cost?
Nothing. Virtual visits are free. You do not need to buy books or pay a fee.
Our school has no budget. Can we still request one?
Yes. A school with no budget is just as welcome.
Can we support Micah’s work anyway?
If your school has the resources, buying books for students or offering an optional author honorarium is always appreciated. There is no suggested amount and no obligation. Email us to arrange either one.
Is my date booked when I send the form?
Not yet. The form sends a request. Your visit is booked when we confirm the date and time by email.
When are visits held?
On Wednesdays and Fridays. You pick a date and time when you send your request.
More questions
What happens during a visit?
Micah tells students how he went from baseball to art to writing Aku, including what didn’t go well. Then he asks about their dreams and answers their questions.
What grades is it for?
Grades 3 to 8 are the best fit.
Can Micah present in Spanish?
Yes. Visits are available in English or Spanish.
What do we need on our end?
A screen, a speaker and a way for students to ask questions. We send the video link before your visit.
Do you offer in-person visits?
Sometimes. In-person visits are arranged separately. Email us and tell us where you are.
Do students need to have read the book?
No.
What kind of student art can we send?
Artwork your students made: drawings, paintings, coloring pages. A photo or scan of the artwork is fine. Please don’t send photographs of students or include children’s full names.
How do we get books for our students?
Post a class set on DonorsChoose and share the link with us, and we feature your classroom on our board. If you don’t have a project yet, you can add your class to our list, and we may feature it to help it get noticed.
Anything you need? Email the Aku team. A real person reads every email.