Launching Children Into a World of Reading
BookSpring’s 2019 Central Texas Reading Survey offers insight into the state of reading in Central Texas and early literacy efforts in our community. This survey provides valuable information about the reading habits of families in Central Texas, while raising many interesting questions about the state of reading in the region, an understanding of the situation […]
Love to read even if it doesn’t come easily Encouraging reading at home can sometimes present challenges for families. Distractions, time constraints, and reluctant readers can hinder the reading experience. However, with practical strategies and solutions, these obstacles can be overcome, fostering a positive reading environment. In this article, we will address common challenges faced […]
Literati is the book club that makes it easy to find unique and interesting books for kids ages 0-12. Each Literati box contains five, age-appropriate books based on a theme like The Spirit of Adventure or The Animal Kingdom. Each one is personalized for each child, and delivered right to their door. The Austin-based company […]
By Lorena Koppel: Volunteer I had an awesome time representing BookSpring this weekend at the Community Connections Resource Fair, sponsored by Austin Energy! The fair featured over one hundred vendors and representatives of businesses and organizations, and showcased local artisans and performers. With BookSpring, I was able to spread awareness about the importance of child […]
By Lorena Koppel: Volunteer If you’re looking for a quick escape from the real world, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a batch of some of some of the best fantasy books, selected by the wisest mages in the lands, for your enjoyment! Aru Shah and the End of Time By Roshani Chokshi An adventure inspired by […]
by Emily Ball Cicchini, Executive Director This coming “hindsite is 20/20” year promises to be landmark one for BookSpring and for all the partners and families with children we serve. Wouldn’t it be great if we could know now what we’ll know in the future? Well, we can’t! The best we can do is pay […]
Toni O’ Dowd is a retired elementary school principal from the Dallas area with over 15 years of educational experience. As a principal, she utilized books and story-time as a means of calming students having a difficult day. She would pull them into her office to select books from her collection and simply spend sometime […]
BookSpring is proud to be a partner in literacy with BookPeople. BookPeople has been the leading independent bookstore in Texas since 1970. Located in the heart of downtown, BookPeople has been voted best bookstore in Austin for over 15 years. BookPeople was voted Bookstore of the Year by Publisher’s Weekly in 2005. With visits from […]
It is no mystery that summer break can result in an exponential loss of academic skills or the “summer slide.” Research conducted by John Hopkins’ sociology Professor Karl Alexander shows that low-income youth suffer significantly from a loss of academic skills over the summertime. The losses pile up contributing to an achievement gap in their […]
By Ashley Haustein Like many 30-year-olds, I grew up loving Harry Potter. The magical Hogwarts castle, professors who could turn into cats, and flying broomsticks captured me in a way no other story did. Last summer, my book club decided to put a “pause” on reading books written for adults and to read (re-read for […]
250+ guests from across the business, community, and political spectrum joined us for our annual Storybook Heroes fundraising luncheon — and made a huge six figure difference in the lives of families across our community. And we are eternally grateful to our very special guests, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke, from KUT’s hit […]
Erica Huff, owner of Wick Habit wants to make the world a better place or at least make it smell nicer. With a history of donating portions of her proceeds to local causes, Erica was inspired to create the“Rachel’s Poetry Corner” candle in honor of Rachel McElroy of the local podcast Wonderful. Erica said, “She’s one […]
Rachel McElroy and her husband Griffin host a weekly podcast called Wonderful. Listeners are encouraged to write in with items of enthusiasm such as movies, television, sports, books, and more for topics of discussion. With a background in poetry, Rachel began an informal segment called “Rachel’s Poetry Corner” to expose more people to poetry. She connected […]
by Emily Ball Cicchini, Executive Director Reading isn’t simple. I am noticing more discussion lately in education circles about reading and complexity. By complexity, we mean both the quality of the text that is being read, and what is going on inside the minds and hearts of the people who are reading. Reading is complex. […]
By: AuntieCam, Guest Blogger As March gets underway, many communities will celebrate Fat Tuesday, the last day before the Christian season of Lent. Those in Texas may be most familiar with Mardi Gras, an event most often associated with New Orleans, but the same day is referred to as Carnival throughout the Caribbean and Latin […]
It is never too early to share books with your baby. Reading to babies immerses them in sounds, rhythms, and rhymes building language and early literacy skills. Books are also a crucial bonding tool for caregivers and their newborns. Through the Rx programs, we partner with healthcare providers to prescribe a book and a dose […]
By: Ashley Hawes, JLA Volunteer As the world grows increasingly smaller due to connectivity through the internet and global travel, children’s books should represent the myriad of cultures and faces that exist within a quick search on the internet or a walk through the street in any metropolitan area. Children, especially those aged 0-5, are […]
Dobie Pre-Kindergarten Librarian Alexia Haywood, in front of her newest bulletin board, holding two of her favorite books. By: Kara Hooper/ Guest Blogger “Oh, I am so glad that you are here,” said Dobie Pre-Kindergarten Center librarian Alexia Haywood in a chipper, enthusiastic voice. “I can’t wait to get started on the Battle of the […]
Do you want to contribute in a unique and meaningful way to our mission? We love to distribute books that are written by or for underrepresented people, because all children deserve the chance to see themselves reflected in the books they read. However, it costs about three times the amount for us to purchase these […]
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month, we suggest you consider hosting a book drive that exemplifies diverse characters reflective of young Central Texas readers. We ask that you collect and share children’s books that celebrate equality, diversity, and inclusiveness. We welcome books with positive and interesting representations of color, […]
By: Nicky and Sam Ellis – Guest Bloggers of Horse Foals Man and horse have shared a strong bond for thousands of years. Horses are very friendly and one of the gentlest animals. Despite their size and height, most horses have an inherently kind temperament. Many specialists from the equestrian discipline and horse owners claim to have […]
Liam H. held a book drive for our literacy programs in lieu of presents for his 11th birthday party. Thanks to his friends at St. Austin Catholic School they collected books to share with other children in Central Texas. Thanks Liam for helping us provide children in Central Texas with 20 books by 2020. Checkout his […]
