Staff

What is your job title at BookSpring and what does it mean to you? My role as an Administrative Assistant is to act as support for the Development and Finance departments as well as our Board of Directors. The nature of my role is to be flexible with the growing ...

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 ...

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 ...

by Dr. Emily Ball Cicchini, Executive Director As we kick off this new year, our 49th of continuous operation, the challenge of communication across the many members of BookSpring remains.  BookSpring is both grassroots and established, local and digital, and volunteer and professional.  How do we manage all the different ...

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 ...

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 ...

Amidst a great amount of change and uncertainty throughout the current public health crisis, we’d like to shine a spotlight on one of our partners who has gone above and beyond to serve and meet the immediate needs of Texans: H-E-B. Last year, BookSpring and H-E-B partnered together to bring ...

We are celebrating Emily Ball Cicchini's five-year anniversary at BookSpring! She joined BookSpring in February 2015 and is proud of all that we, as a board, staff, partners, and volunteers, have accomplished together. In Emily’s words, “…this organization is truly a collaborative labor of love for hundreds of very committed ...

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 ...

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 ...

The giving season kicked off with Book People featuring BookSpring in its annual Giving Guide. This year they are featuring organizations whose missions they connected to deeply and others they have worked with to make Austin an incredible place to live. Book People is hosting give-back days throughout the month ...

With the 20 Books by 2020 initiative under way, the need for books to distribute through our programs with healthcare (Rx), education (Ed), and community (Go) partners. It is these partnerships that allow us to reach children and families in need across Central Texas. Two of our greatest supporters in ...

“The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others.” – Deann Hollis Meet Kara Hooper, who began her volunteer work with BookSpring in July 2018. Kara is an educator currently on sabbatical and ...

Jill Gonzalez receives Storybook Hero Award from Emily Ball Cicchini (Executive Director), Drew Scherz (Board President), at Austin Taco Project, Austin Hilton, Aug 29 2018  Today is a bittersweet day at BookSpring as we say goodbye to one of our long-time staff members, Jill Gonzalez. Jill is embarking on a ...

by Emily Ball Cicchini, Executive Director This photo was taken at a lunchtime summer Go event at one of the Housing Authority of the City of Austin's community centers. This young girl was so memorable to me, because she was so insistent that I read that one book, a counting ...

As another school year ends so does the service of some outstanding board members. These individuals are deeply committed to sharing their love of reading with Central Texas. Please join us in offering a heartfelt thank you to Beth, Jan, and Jerry for their years of service! Though we are ...

Submitted by: Joan Wabschall, Executive Director When I think of children's authors/illustrators, I think of Eric Carle. His book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been translated into more than 55 languages. In all his books, his art is distinctive and easily recognizable as a "collage technique." He uses hand-painted papers ...

Submitted by: Jill González, Director of Programs Brrr! It’s cold today, a perfect day to cuddle up and enjoy the classic story, The Mitten. Jan Brett, author and illustrator of The Mitten retells a classic story with amazingly detailed illustrations. Growing up in the north, I was well acquainted with ...

Submitted by: Brenda Brantley, Communications Manager One of my family’s favorite children’s author and illustrator is H.A. Rey. Known for his timeless classic, the Curious George series, Rey’s illustrations in Katy No Pocket, are what my daughter most likes to discuss during her bedtime story. Katy No Pocket, is the ...

Submitted by: Shelley Renee, Read-A-Thon Program Manager This book starts on a Tuesday evening around 8 when it appears that a number of frogs have suddenly discovered they can fly. It is a surreal and almost wordless Caldecott Medal-winning illustrated story with fantastic realistic images of frogs flying on lily ...