Hollibrook’s two-day student book distribution was sponsored by the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. It is part of the Houston-based group’s first-year My Home Library initiative, which pairs the foundation, volunteers and supporting partners with a solid, research-based effort to build student home libraries, especially for those who might not otherwise have books at home.
“The book gap must be addressed to help close the reading achievement gap,” said Julie Finck, Ed.D, Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation president. “Research shows that when children have access to books in their home and choice in what books they read, they read more often and achieve at higher academic levels. My Home Library increases the opportunity for reading success by placing books in the hands of children in our community who are economically disadvantaged.”
Hollibrook is not the first nor last stop in Spring Branch ISD for the well-known Barbara Bush organization and its new Home Library. In May, more than 500 students at Treasure Forest Elementary each picked out up to six books to keep and share at home through the program.
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey’s devastation, Barbara Bush’s leadership expanded its effort to build home libraries by including schools in areas of flooding. In the weeks ahead, students impacted by Harvey will also have an opportunity to pick up new books. SBISD campuses selected for future visits include Rummel Creek (Oct. 31), as well as Frostwood, Nottingham and Meadow Wood elementary schools before January.
In all, up to 2,500 SBISD students will receive My Home Library books this year through the Barbara Bush organization; up to 25,000 students across the Houston region will take home their own new sets of books.
At Hollibrook, students visited the library space in grade level groups, and then browsed among a variety of books arranged across a series of tables by category, ranging from Early Readers topics to Science, Movie and TV-based books and series. Students browsed closely, picking their favorites.
“I read those growing up!” exclaimed teacher assistant Griselda Turner as she spotted students with the Goosebumps series. “I like those so much.”
“I think this project is fantastic for our kids,” she said. “I don’t think that too many of the children in this community have great access to books and to literature at home.”
The Barbara Bush Foundation negotiated best-in-class pricing for its books with four major publishers: Scholastic, the largest children’s book publisher in the world; Arté Publico Press, a UH-based Hispanic literature publisher; and Texas-based Bright Sky Press and LongTale Publishing of Houston.
“Students pick their own books to read and share at home,” said Hollibrook Principal Karen Liska. “This project is also a neat way to let parents and our community know how important it is for children to be readers. Literacy is a critical life skill. If children are successful at reading, they can be successful in anything in life they choose.”
Liska has focused on literacy at this school. Last December, teachers gave two books each to students as holiday gifts, one based on reading interest, another on grade-level reading need. Another book distribution was held at Hollibrook in May, and a Reading Rally with the Astro’s mascot Orbit will be held Nov. 6 on campus.
Hollibrook’s librarian Jen Messner took class photographs of students with their new books on Wednesday.
“I love that they have free choice on books that they can choose, and many pick books to share with family,” she said. “One student picked out a Harry Potter book for just that reason.”
Corporate supporting partners for the My Home Library campaign at Hollibrook included Phillips 66 and Dollar General.
To learn more about the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and related philanthropic opportunities, please visit:
https://www.bushhoustonliteracy.org/
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