Reading Tips

Why Celebrate Reading Milestones? Reading milestones are important moments to acknowledge and celebrate within a family. Recognizing and rewarding reading accomplishments not only provides a sense of achievement but also reinforces the joy and value of reading. In this article, we will explore the significance of celebrating reading milestones and ...

Embracing the Digital Age In this rapidly evolving digital age, it is only natural that technology has become an integral part of our lives, including the way we engage with books and stories. As parents, it is important to strike a balance between traditional and digital forms of reading, ensuring ...

Let's Read a Book Together! Reading is not just a solitary activity; it can be a wonderful opportunity for families to bond, learn, and grow together. By incorporating interactive reading techniques, families can make the reading experience more engaging and enjoyable. In this article, we will explore various methods such ...

Porch.com recently reached out for advice from experts, like BookSpring, to provide book lovers with tips on various topics. This is an excerpt from the article written by Lorena Romo. Every book lover will agree that reading not only brings you lots of benefits, but it can take you to ...

The promotion of literacy at home has long-term benefits for the whole family. Reading together not only has developmental benefits, but it also increases the parent and caregiver-child bond, creating healthier relationships and a more solid sense of security and empathy long-term. Steps to create a reader-friendly environment that inspires ...

For a young reader, having access to books is paramount. Research suggests that increasing the number of books available to students, especially at a young age, leads to higher reading scores and academic achievement overall. More books in the classroom and at home means a student has more to choose ...

Research confirms that families play an essential role in promoting early literacy. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, reading daily to young children helps their brain development (O’Keefe, 2014). Families can foster engagement while promoting early literacy! Reading together establishes a shared event in which stronger bonds develop between parents, ...

Summer is the perfect time for kids to immerse themselves in reading U.S. Bank employees are teaming up with us to promote summer reading! Employees shared some of their top children’s book recommendations for kids age 6-8. Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene Review by Lauren Mcconnell The Nancy Drew ...

We're reposting this guest blog, by Natalia Mirkowicz, to encourage parents and caregivers, during quarantine, to establish a reading routine with their babies at home. Here's why... A common misconception among families is that literacy education starts during the school years. Yet, research shows that starting to read and speak ...

Encouraging diversity in your children's books early can create a sense of empathy and representation in young readers. While some readers yearn to find themselves in a book, others can learn about experiences outside their own. Diversity in children's books is essential for building a more compassionate world. We've compiled ...

Parents and educators, BookSpring has compiled another list of Spanish-language educational videos and reading materials that are perfect for engaging young children. These links feature resources that are educational and entertaining. They’re ideal for young native Spanish speakers, and for newcomers to the language eager to learn new words! Read ...

Students from Gorzycki Middle School are helping BookSpring remind kids reading can help them learn and grow. They are reminding all Central Texas families how inspirational and important books can be. A special thank you for helping launch The Must Read Series for kids, which features book recommendations by kids ...

Spanish Translation Thanks to the digitization of books, families can access a range of titles without leaving the comforts of home.  There are many free online collections that feature a number of quality and acclaimed children’s books.  With the following resources, families can broaden their access their literature with the ...

Students from Gorzycki Middle School help to remind all Central Texas families how inspirational and important books at home are for children’s futures! By: Alexandra D. (6th Grade) When I was little, my favorite book was The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle. My favorite character was the stinkbug because ...

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 ...

by Emily Ball Cicchini, Executive Director September, 2018: We here are BookSpring have announced a big audacious goal: to get 20 high quality children's books in every Central Texas homes. This vision is being driven by social science research that shows a statistically significant correlation between the size of home ...

BookSpring recommends that families explore reading together at home online. Digital children's books can be a terrific online addition to a print library, if the e-books are simple (without lots of pop-up distractions) and if they are used to read together as a family. Our friends at Unite for Literacy ...

By Jill Gonzalez, Associate Director Ready for School BookSpring’s Top 10 Back to School Read-Alouds It’s that time of year again! It’s time to head back to school, see old friends, and make some new ones. Whether your children are in preschool or elementary school, here are some books that ...

By: Rebecca Shah In our house there are about 15 minutes after supper and before we start the bedtime routine that are often challenging for our five-year-old and two-year-old (and, frankly, for us). The kids are tired and grumpy. It feels impossible to share and absolutely necessary to burst into ...

Mariela Rodriguez, BookSpringGo Director Earlier this month, BookSpring Champion Dan Rourke celebrated his 60th Birthday with a mission. This was no ordinary celebration. He requested no presents in lieu of putting the spotlight on his 6 favorite charities, including BookSpring! He encouraged his friends, family, and other attendees to donate ...

By: Luke Arney, BookSpringGo volunteer My journey with BookSpring started over a year ago while I was in my freshman year at Lake Travis High School. During my freshman year in AP Human Geography my teacher, Mrs. Browning, set forth a project that would follow one of the seventeen UN ...

BookSpring’s van has been hitting the streets throughout Central Texas to get resources needed to children and families through partners already serving them. Tools that will ensure they read and succeed together. With thousands of books constantly flowing in and out of our office, we are keeping home libraries growing ...

By: Joel Gross Photos by Tyler Schmitt / The Mill Photography Studio At BookSpring we know one of the most critical areas in students’ early educational journey is stemming the tide of summer reading loss. More broadly, the summer also presents an added challenge to many parents as they strive to ...

At BookSpring, we are just over the moon this fall – even though it’s time for a solar eclipse! (okay, we’re a little out of sync…) We’ve got a collaboration in the works that has brought so many people together and we are truly excited about it! The Girls Scouts ...

BookSpring is a very special place to be. Our mission and vision are tied to the success of children and families and their learning to love books and reading. We can attribute many of our daily successes to the amazing skills and talents of our staff. Today we are saying ...

The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) held their annual conference late July at the Austin Convention Center. We are very grateful that AALL selected BookSpring as the recipient of their children’s book drive. AALL’s Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section addresses issues of social change and social responsibility that are ...

Literacy First is an esteemed AmeriCorps program in the Austin community. Since 1994, Literacy First has worked to ensure that children in Central Texas are successful readers before third grade. Not only do these AmeriCorps members provide intensive one-on-one and small group literacy intervention at various Title 1 schools, they ...

Each year on April 30, El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day)—also referred to as Día!—countless libraries and community organizations celebrate the importance of diversity and literacy for all children. Embracing a child’s home language and culture contributes to their cognitive, social emotional, and literacy ...

by Emily Ball Cicchini, Executive Director A little over a year ago, BookSpring was awarded an Impact Grant from IBM to develop a Digital Marketing Strategy for our programs and services. Arranged by BookSpring Champion Beth Tracy, IBM Manager of Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs, and lead by IBM consultants ...

BookSpring is partnering with Greater Austin Area My Brother's Keeper (GAAMBK) to address a troubling and persistent problem. Young boys of color are often among the least prepared to enter kindergarten. Kindergarten readiness includes social, emotional, and early literacy skills such as vocabulary, oral expression, and story comprehension. Low-income boys ...