Opening
the doors
to literacy
To mark our 15th anniversary and power our future, we are launching the Gemma@15 Anniversary Fundraising Campaign. Our goal will enable us to publish relevant, engaging content for emerging adult readers and their teachers.
More than 43 million Americans cannot read above the third-grade level. Every HiLo book and package we produce encourages the enjoyment of reading, a key step toward proficiency.
For more information on the campaign and important highlights from our 15-year journey, go here.
“Literacy is a human right.”
– UNESCO
Since 2008, Gemma has been devoted to advancing adult literacy and the pleasure of reading. From young adult fiction to memoir to travel writing with consistent themes of crossing cultures and diversity, Gemma encourages the love of reading.
Our Gemma Open Door series is specifically designed for people on the path to English language literacy. Taken together, Gemma is a powerful literary combination to encourage reading at all levels.
Popular Resources
Audiobooks
Audio combined with text helps in the acquisition of language and literacy. These free downloads are available for many titles.
Teaching & Reading Guides
To help teachers, mentors and new reader get the most out of our HiLo books, Teaching and Reading Guides and available for many titles.
SnapReads!
Written at the first-grade level, these serial adaptations of three popular titles act as onramps to the bigger book.
HiLo Reading Levels
Select the right books for you or your students. Find the reading levels on all of our HiLo Gemma Open Door books.
Lesson Planning
Here are a few samples of lesson planning to use with our Hilo books.

News!
Stay tuned to the latest news, current releases, upcoming events, and specials. For past news updates, check out the Gemma News Archive.
New HiLo Release: Newcomers!
We’ve just released our newest HiLo publication, Newcomers by Greta Gorsuch.
In Newcomers, five people arrive at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. But they are not starting a vacation. They come to work. These young people emigrated from Bangladesh, China, Ghana, and Mexico. Some drive buses. Others sell coffee, books, and clothes. And some rub your aching neck and feet in day spas.
Travelers pass by them without a second look. Yet their lives are challenging and complex. These employees become friends as they struggle to learn a new culture and understand a very confusing world of work.
Introduce your adult literacy students to the newcomers by purchasing your copy here.
Ways to Support
Your support allows us to publish engaging, smart literature for people who struggle to read, comprehend English, or finish a book. And many only have kids’ books to study. Gemma spotlights THE BEST writing we can find to encourage the joy of reading.
Give now. And thank a teacher!


Gemma Open Door for Literacy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. Gifts and donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. EIN #81-1384020 literacy@gemmamedia.org
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