diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/book.py b/bookwyrm/models/book.py
index 8d441e8b..a6b2774d 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/book.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/book.py
@@ -52,12 +52,29 @@ class Book(ActivitypubMixin, BookWyrmModel):
     authors = fields.ManyToManyField('Author')
     # preformatted authorship string for search and easier display
     author_text = models.CharField(max_length=255, blank=True, null=True)
-    cover = fields.ImageField(upload_to='covers/', blank=True, null=True)
+    cover = fields.ImageField(
+        upload_to='covers/', blank=True, null=True, alt_field='alt_text')
     first_published_date = fields.DateTimeField(blank=True, null=True)
     published_date = fields.DateTimeField(blank=True, null=True)
 
     objects = InheritanceManager()
 
+    @property
+    def edition_info(self):
+        ''' properties of this edition, as a string '''
+        items = [
+            self.physical_format,
+            self.languages[0] + ' language' if self.languages and \
+                    self.languages[0] != 'English' else None,
+            str(self.published_date.year) if self.published_date else None,
+        ]
+        return ', '.join(i for i in items if i)
+
+    @property
+    def alt_text(self):
+        ''' image alt test '''
+        return '%s cover (%s)' % (self.title, self.edition_info)
+
     def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
         ''' can't be abstract for query reasons, but you shouldn't USE it '''
         if not isinstance(self, Edition) and not isinstance(self, Work):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/fields.py b/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
index 082ac53b..b3011e00 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
@@ -305,18 +305,22 @@ class TagField(ManyToManyField):
         return items
 
 
-def image_serializer(value):
+def image_serializer(value, alt):
     ''' helper for serializing images '''
     if value and hasattr(value, 'url'):
         url = value.url
     else:
         return None
     url = 'https://%s%s' % (DOMAIN, url)
-    return activitypub.Image(url=url)
+    return activitypub.Image(url=url, name=alt)
 
 
 class ImageField(ActivitypubFieldMixin, models.ImageField):
     ''' activitypub-aware image field '''
+    def __init__(self, *args, alt_field=None, **kwargs):
+        self.alt_field = alt_field
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
     # pylint: disable=arguments-differ
     def set_field_from_activity(self, instance, data, save=True):
         ''' helper function for assinging a value to the field '''
@@ -326,9 +330,19 @@ class ImageField(ActivitypubFieldMixin, models.ImageField):
             return
         getattr(instance, self.name).save(*formatted, save=save)
 
+    def set_activity_from_field(self, activity, instance):
+        value = getattr(instance, self.name)
+        if value is None:
+            return
+        alt_text = getattr(instance, self.alt_field)
+        formatted = self.field_to_activity(value, alt_text)
 
-    def field_to_activity(self, value):
-        return image_serializer(value)
+        key = self.get_activitypub_field()
+        activity[key] = formatted
+
+
+    def field_to_activity(self, value, alt=None):
+        return image_serializer(value, alt)
 
 
     def field_from_activity(self, value):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/status.py b/bookwyrm/models/status.py
index 49fbad55..b358554c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/status.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/status.py
@@ -86,11 +86,11 @@ class Status(OrderedCollectionPageMixin, BookWyrmModel):
                 activity['name'] = self.pure_name
             activity['type'] = self.pure_type
             activity['attachment'] = [
-                image_serializer(b.cover) for b in self.mention_books.all() \
-                        if b.cover]
+                image_serializer(b.cover, b.alt_text) \
+                    for b in self.mention_books.all()[:4] if b.cover]
             if hasattr(self, 'book'):
                 activity['attachment'].append(
-                    image_serializer(self.book.cover)
+                    image_serializer(self.book.cover, self.book.alt_text)
                 )
         return activity
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/user.py b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
index 9d66eb5c..d5db9949 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ class User(OrderedCollectionPageMixin, AbstractUser):
     # name is your display name, which you can change at will
     name = fields.CharField(max_length=100, default='')
     avatar = fields.ImageField(
-        upload_to='avatars/', blank=True, null=True, activitypub_field='icon')
+        upload_to='avatars/', blank=True, null=True,
+        activitypub_field='icon', alt_field='alt_text')
     followers = fields.ManyToManyField(
         'self',
         link_only=True,
@@ -90,6 +91,11 @@ class User(OrderedCollectionPageMixin, AbstractUser):
     last_active_date = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)
     manually_approves_followers = fields.BooleanField(default=False)
 
+    @property
+    def alt_text(self):
+        ''' alt text with username '''
+        return 'avatar for %s' % (self.localname or self.username)
+
     @property
     def display_name(self):
         ''' show the cleanest version of the user's name possible '''
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/avatar.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/avatar.html
index da4b5fd2..ca49075c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/avatar.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/avatar.html
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {% load bookwyrm_tags %}
-<img class="avatar image {% if large %}is-96x96{% else %}is-32x32{% endif %}" src="{% if user.avatar %}/images/{{ user.avatar }}{% else %}/static/images/default_avi.jpg{% endif %}" alt="avatar for {{ user|username }}">
+<img class="avatar image {% if large %}is-96x96{% else %}is-32x32{% endif %}" src="{% if user.avatar %}/images/{{ user.avatar }}{% else %}/static/images/default_avi.jpg{% endif %}" alt="{{ user.alt_text }}">
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/book_cover.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/book_cover.html
index ceeef426..6d15b37f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/book_cover.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/book_cover.html
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 {% load bookwyrm_tags %}
 <div class="cover-container is-{{ size }}">
 {% if book.cover %}
-    <img class="book-cover" src="/images/{{ book.cover }}" alt="{% include 'snippets/cover_alt.html' with book=book %}">
+<img class="book-cover" src="/images/{{ book.cover }}" alt="{{ book.alt_text }}">
 {% else %}
     <div class="no-cover book-cover">
         <img class="book-cover" src="/static/images/no_cover.jpg" alt="No cover">
         <div>
             <p>{{ book.title }}</p>
-            <p>({{ book|edition_info }})</p>
+            <p>({{ book.edition_info }})</p>
         </div>
     </div>
 {% endif %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/cover_alt.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/cover_alt.html
deleted file mode 100644
index 0cccc2e1..00000000
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/cover_alt.html
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-{% load bookwyrm_tags %}
-'{{ book.title }}' Cover ({{ book|edition_info }})
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py b/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py
index e6460d58..91934d48 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py
@@ -97,20 +97,6 @@ def get_boosted(boost):
     ).get()
 
 
-@register.filter(name='edition_info')
-def get_edition_info(book):
-    ''' paperback, French language, 1982 '''
-    if not book:
-        return ''
-    items = [
-        book.physical_format if isinstance(book, models.Edition) else None,
-        book.languages[0] + ' language' if book.languages and \
-                book.languages[0] != 'English' else None,
-        str(book.published_date.year) if book.published_date else None,
-    ]
-    return ', '.join(i for i in items if i)
-
-
 @register.filter(name='book_description')
 def get_book_description(book):
     ''' use the work's text if the book doesn't have it '''
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py
index ff56b5d8..a52133ea 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 ''' testing models '''
+from dateutil.parser import parse
 from django.test import TestCase
+from django.utils import timezone
 
 from bookwyrm import models, settings
 from bookwyrm.models.book import isbn_10_to_13, isbn_13_to_10
@@ -56,3 +58,27 @@ class Book(TestCase):
         isbn_13 = '978-1788-16167-1'
         isbn_10 = isbn_13_to_10(isbn_13)
         self.assertEqual(isbn_10, '178816167X')
+
+
+    def test_get_edition_info(self):
+        ''' text slug about an edition '''
+        book = models.Edition.objects.create(title='Test Edition')
+        self.assertEqual(book.edition_info, '')
+
+        book.physical_format = 'worm'
+        book.save()
+        self.assertEqual(book.edition_info, 'worm')
+
+        book.languages = ['English']
+        book.save()
+        self.assertEqual(book.edition_info, 'worm')
+
+        book.languages = ['Glorbish', 'English']
+        book.save()
+        self.assertEqual(book.edition_info, 'worm, Glorbish language')
+
+        book.published_date = timezone.make_aware(parse('2020'))
+        book.save()
+        self.assertEqual(book.edition_info, 'worm, Glorbish language, 2020')
+        self.assertEqual(
+            book.alt_text, 'Test Edition cover (worm, Glorbish language, 2020)')
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_fields.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_fields.py
index 81b1d528..10c674d9 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_fields.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_fields.py
@@ -393,17 +393,19 @@ class ActivitypubFields(TestCase):
             ContentFile(output.getvalue())
         )
 
-        output = fields.image_serializer(user.avatar)
+        output = fields.image_serializer(user.avatar, alt='alt text')
         self.assertIsNotNone(
             re.match(
                 r'.*\.jpg',
                 output.url,
             )
         )
+        self.assertEqual(output.name, 'alt text')
         self.assertEqual(output.type, 'Image')
 
         instance = fields.ImageField()
 
+        output = fields.image_serializer(user.avatar, alt=None)
         self.assertEqual(instance.field_to_activity(user.avatar), output)
 
         responses.add(
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/test_templatetags.py b/bookwyrm/tests/test_templatetags.py
index 67d28848..6956553e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/test_templatetags.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/test_templatetags.py
@@ -158,34 +158,6 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(boosted, status)
 
 
-    def test_get_edition_info(self):
-        ''' text slug about an edition '''
-        self.assertEqual(
-            bookwyrm_tags.get_edition_info(self.book), '')
-
-        self.book.physical_format = 'worm'
-        self.book.save()
-        self.assertEqual(
-            bookwyrm_tags.get_edition_info(self.book), 'worm')
-
-        self.book.languages = ['English']
-        self.book.save()
-        self.assertEqual(
-            bookwyrm_tags.get_edition_info(self.book), 'worm')
-
-        self.book.languages = ['Glorbish', 'English']
-        self.book.save()
-        self.assertEqual(
-            bookwyrm_tags.get_edition_info(self.book),
-            'worm, Glorbish language')
-
-        self.book.published_date = timezone.make_aware(parse('2020'))
-        self.book.save()
-        self.assertEqual(
-            bookwyrm_tags.get_edition_info(self.book),
-            'worm, Glorbish language, 2020')
-
-
     def test_get_book_description(self):
         ''' grab it from the edition or the parent '''
         work = models.Work.objects.create(title='Test Work')