Updates

Our friends at H-E-B at N. Lamar and Rundberg have a little more in store for teachers and families preparing for back to school. TODAY (Friday, August 7) 500 in-store and Curbside shoppers will receive an extra “surprise and delight” as part of the retailer’s back-to-school initiatives – a free ...

Access an updated list of internet services via inmyarea.com. During the Covid-19 outbreak, BookSpring wants to make sure all families can easily access the internet. Online resources are vital sources for continuing childhood education during this period of self-quarantine. Many affiliated enterprises are swiftly updating accounts and web pages with ...

BookSpring's Board of Directors is comprised of individuals committed to ensuring we do the best work possible in pursuit of our goals to serve children and families in Central Texas. Board members are active participants in our annual evaluation and planning efforts. They volunteer their time to actively participate in ...

by Emily Ball Cicchini, Executive Director Considering all the challenges for the past fiscal year (July 1, 2019- June 30, 2020), BookSpring is doing remarkably well.  This sense of accomplishment is reflected by those in the community with whom we are working.  We received a modest Payroll Protection Program loan ...

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 ...

Over the years we have been fortunate to work with the wonderful ladies of the National Charity League (NCL). The group's mission is to foster mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development, and cultural experiences. This week we want to shine the spotlight on our ...

What is your job at BookSpring? Director of Development and Marketing What do you like about your job at BookSpring? I love working towards fulfilling our vision of home libraries for every kid in need throughout Central Texas and encouraging families to read together. How has your job at BookSpring ...

Lorena Koppel recommends you spend your summer relaxing and enjoying a great book! If you loved the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, and are looking for similar reads to enjoy, you’ve come to the right place! Here are 5 of the best middle-grade fantasy essentials for your next reading ...

Lift as You Climb The Story of Ella Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell Review by Frannie Rooney, Literacy First Volunteer  I came across “Lift as You Climb” while browsing the Austin Public Library’s Kids section. It was the first book I saw under “New”. Considering the current progress of the ...

By Emily Ball Cicchini, Executive Director A recent survey released by the U.S. Census shows that 55% of households with job loss had children in the home.  They were more likely to face food insecurity and be unsure of paying their rent or mortgage in June.  This means that over ...

Reading regularly with young children stimulates optimal patterns of brain development. Books in the home and reading together can strengthen parent-child relationships during a critical period of development. BookSpringGo programs partners with community-based organizations that work with children and families to provide early literacy programs. We target families living in ...

An interest in books that starts during childhood can lead to much more than academic success. Teenage volunteer Shruti Vadlakonda reveals how a love of reading resulted in friendships that would help her navigate middle school. Think about how you’ve met your closest friends. Mostly for me, I’ve become friends ...

We are shining the Volunteer Spotlight on our AmeriCorps VISTA, Evan Rosenblum. He believes that books are a critical tool in helping us better understand ourselves, our world, and each other. We are thrilled to have Evan's expertise and creativity on our team! What is your job at BookSpring? I ...

Najla Albeayeyz is a BookSpring volunteer from Saudia Arabia who started a book club during her junior year of high school!  Starting a book club with friends is easy, and Najla has advice on how to keep it going.  Read on for tips on how to implement this fun activity! ...

There is no doubt that coronavirus has changed all of our lives. We’ve all been impacted in different ways and for many of us with children, it has redefined our daily routine into a new normal. The kids are home from school and daycare and that leaves parents and guardians ...

The spotlight is on our volunteer Kacy Vega. She is a resident of San Diego, California but originally hails from the Great Lakes State -- Michigan! Kacy is our newest digital literacy advocate helping create content for kids and their parents and caregivers. Check out her book reviews on YouTube.  ...

Reading together as a family and doing activities related to the story is a great way to fill your time and build lasting memories! BookSpring is here to provide you with recommendations on children's books. We are connecting with members of our community to share some of their favorite stories ...

Volunteer blogger Destinee McGhee returns with an eclectic selection of books to review for BookSpring! In honor of Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month, we recommend these titles featuring stories of tailors, journalists, and athletes. See below for Destinee’s reviews! Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim Maia Tamarin is ...

Sylvie is a seventeen-year-old who loves reading!  She is virtually volunteering with BookSpring to “spread kindness to others and put a smile on someone’s face!”  We are honored to have Sylvie share her recommendations for some great Young Adult books with us. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas The ...

Book drives are a great way to engage your family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues in a low effort project with maximum impact for families in Central Texas. Spurthi Kodkani and Hetal Matta are two prime examples of members of our community combining their passion and interests to support BookSpring in ...

Reading is a great activity to relax and calm anxious nerves. We recommend families read together twice a day to reduce stress. Barbara Campos is a BookSpring volunteer with a passion for books and reading. She recently compiled a list of children's books, for the kid in your life spending ...

In honor of National Volunteer Week (April 19th – April 25th), BookSpring is highlighting contributions from volunteers, who are critical to making our operations possible throughout the region of Central Texas. BookSpring’s temporary transition to working remotely has provided us with the occasion to spotlight volunteers who have made a ...

In honor of National Volunteer Week (April 19th – April 25th), BookSpring is highlighting contributions from volunteers, who are critical to making our operations possible throughout the region of Central Texas. BookSpring’s temporary transition to working remotely has provided us with the occasion to spotlight volunteers who have made a ...

Destinee has a passion for books and reading! Here are her Young Adult book recommendations for you. These books are available on Amazon. Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish By Pablo Carta At six feet tall and 180 pounds, eighth-grader Marcus Vega is usually seen as a threat by pretty much ...

It’s National Volunteer Week!  We want to take this time to give a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who make BookSpring’s operations possible.  From curating books to read-aloud, BookSpring’s endeavors would not be possible without the help of the amazing people who put in their time and ...

English Translation Un club de lectura puede ser una forma divertida y creativa de alentar el entusiasmo por la lectura. Es una oportunidad para que los niños y las familias se unan sobre la literatura, y puede abarcar una variedad de actividades. Reunirse Los clubs de lectura son una excelente ...

Spanish Translation A book club can be a fun and creative way to encourage enthusiasm for reading.  It’s an informal opportunity for children and families to bond over literature, and can encompass a variety of activities.  If you’re looking to begin or improve a children’s book club, read on for ...

BookSpring recommends these online learning resources. Select Storyonline to view Betty White reading Harry the Dirty Dog  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 ...

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 ...

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. These middle schoolers launched the Must Read Series for kids. These are book recommendations by kids for kids and ...