Updates

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 ...

What is your job title at BookSpring and what does it mean to you? My role as a Partner Manager at BookSpring means a commitment to building and nurturing meaningful relationships with our partners, who include various organizations, schools, and agencies throughout Texas who share our vision of building early ...

BookSpring's annual Texas Reading Survey analyzes reading trends, attitudes, and behaviors in Texas households. These results will help us better understand what is going on with reading in the communities we serve so that we can refine our programs and direct our services more strategically in the coming year.  While ...

Two young souls are making a big difference in the world of literacy. Anushka Godambe, a senior at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, has spearheaded book drives for BookSpring, donating an incredible 25,000+ books over four years. Meanwhile, Caroline Masterson recently completed her own book drive for her Eaglescout ...

Aug 1, 2023 - In the past year, the Books Beginning at Birth program, offered in collaboration with BookSpring and the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children (TXAEYC), has made significant strides in promoting literacy and early childhood development across various communities. Through its initiatives, the program has ...

The children of Suzanne Louise Fournier Kennedy Viescas would like to invite friends and family to honor her memory and her life by donating to BookSpring in support of its enduring mission to ensure all children have access to books. Suzanne passed away in Paris, France at the age of ...

BookSpring staff recommends BookSmart, as a groundbreaking solution to tackle the global learning crisis. With the alarming statistic that 64% of 10-year-olds worldwide struggle to read and comprehend a simple story, BookSmart aims to bridge this gap by providing children with the necessary tools to cultivate a lifelong reading habit ...

In the vibrant Central Texas business community, there exists a shared belief that doing good is not only virtuous but also essential for sustainable growth and prosperity. RecognizeGood's prestigious Ethics in Business Award program embodies this philosophy, aiming to illuminate and honor businesses, individuals, and nonprofits that prioritize ethical practices ...

Book Drives Give Back At St. Andrew's Episcopal School, students recently learned about the importance of giving back through a BookSpring Book Drive. The drive was a huge success, with students donating over 2,000 books to the cause. But the drive was about more than just collecting books - it ...

What is your job title at BookSpring and what does it mean to you? As the Director of Development and Public Relations, I feel like it’s my job to make sure that we have enough funding for all of the programs and books we need to fulfill our mission. It ...

The Power of Diverse Books In recent times, discussions about the importance of diverse books have gained significant attention. Amidst the controversies surrounding the teaching of critical race theory in schools, it is vital to understand the value that diverse books bring to children's education. While headlines may focus on ...

By: Jeannine Herron, et al. In this overview, learn how early literacy benefits from both print-to-speech and speech-to-print instruction, creating connections in the brain that link new knowledge about the alphabet to what children already know and are continuously learning about words. Introduction Recently there have been many discussions among ...

What is your job at BookSpring? I’m the Accounting Manager, so I handle the financial books and assist with fundraising and donor relations and data. What do you like about your job at BookSpring? When I first applied at BookSpring, I was fresh out of college and trying to figure ...

By: María José Meneses, Originally published in Porch.com Parents and other family members can enhance the benefits kids can obtain by complementing reading with a few related activities. While you might think that school teachers have plenty of time for these types of activities, the truth is that there often isn’t ...

What is your job at BookSpring? I’m BookSpring’s Operations Manager. That means I have a uniquely diversified role. I manage all of our operations from onboarding new staff, to coordinating our university work studies and AmeriCorps programs, to the maintenance and care of our brand-new facility! What do you like ...

BookSpring is proud that our roots come from Reading Is Fundamental, the national program headquartered in Washington DC.  In addition to being a continuing funder to BookSpring through the Books for Ownership programs, they watch news and trends, such as The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which showed recently ...

Books Beginning at Birth Program for Texas Families Early childhood programs have long-lasting impacts on children, families, and broader communities. The Texas Association for the Education of Young Children (TXAEYC) and BookSpring launched the Books Beginning at Birth program to ensure more families are empowered and motivated to read together ...

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 ...

It's official!  BookSpring has moved our headquarters to a new location in South Austin, 1807 W. Slaughter Lane, Building #1.  Come visit us M-F, between 10-4, or sign up to volunteer in our new space or at our warehouse on Rutland Drive. NOTE:  Our new mailing address is BookSpring, PO ...

Ethan Woodfield Eiler of Austin, Texas, passed away on Monday, June 13, 2022, at 22. His family asks everyone to honor his memory by enjoying nature, reading a book, and cultivating meaningful and loyal friendships. He always sought ways to make a difference, leave somewhere better than he found, and ...

Summer Success 2022 Program Recap This May, BookSpring visited six campuses in three Central Texas cities—Austin, Del Valle, and Pflugerville—and distributed over 4,500 books to 564 elementary students through our Summer Success Program. The program serves first and second graders enrolled in Title I schools and provides each child with ...

Despite an unexpected but welcome Spring rain storm, about 35 supporters and friends of BookSpring gathered to celebrate early literacy enrichment with the theme, "Dig into Reading." Held at the eclectic Sparky Pocket Park pavilion in Central Austin, there was just enough room inside and on the porch for everyone ...

In April, the Rodriguez Elementary library magically morphed into a science lab equipped with safety goggles, experiment materials, and an in-house scientist. The librarian, Ms. Mott, was mysteriously absent, and her cousin, Dr. Stein, had taken over. Dr. Stein instructed them to place their hands on the scanner when students ...

Partner Spotlight is on Perez Elementary School. With BookSpring’s Books for Me program this month, Perez Elementary librarian Randi Sather transformed her library into a picturesque, serene campsite. I got the chance to visit Ms. Sather on two event days. On the first day, she took her first and second ...

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 ...

February 25th marks my employment anniversary as Executive Director of BookSpring, which started in 2015. As my motto is “Follow compassion, lead with reflection, and serve with commitment,” I’d like to take this time to share some of the triumphs and learning moments observed during this relatively brief time of ...

Stories from Two World Traditions Two of America's biggest holidays happen this month: Hanukkah and Christmas. While I've been celebrating and watching people celebrate these holidays all my life, it came to my attention recently that I have no idea where these traditions came from. So I did a little ...

'Tis the season for reading! The holiday break is a great opportunity for kids to kick back and relax. What better way to relax than by curling up with a good book every night! Our volunteers shared some of their top children’s book recommendations for kids 3-8 years old. Olaf's ...

The 2021 Central Texas Reading Survey provides great insight into the lives of those in our community and shows us a snapshot of what their reading habits have looked like over the past year. Now in its fifth year, this survey helps indicate areas for improvement in Central Texas and ...

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 ...