Category Archives: Literature

BookSpring: Launching Children into a Love of Books

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Above, families and children enjoy storytime with Batman at BookSpring Fest 2025.

This month, the Texas Center for the Book is honored to have Emily Ball Cicchini, Executive Director of BookSpring, talk with us about her wonderful organization, which focuses on building literacy skills for children. Emily is also an author and playwright, so we’ll be discussing that, too! Thank you for joining us, Emily!

Emily Ball Cicchini, Executive Director of BookSpring

Q: For our readers, please tell us about what BookSpring is and what it does.

A: BookSpring is a nonprofit based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to building early literacy and book ownership for children and families. For more than 50 years, we’ve worked to increase access to books and reading, because research shows that children who grow up with books at home are more likely to succeed in school and in life. We distribute about 250,000 books to 100,000 children from birth to age 12 each year.

Q: The audience for our blog is public and school librarians in Texas. What programs does BookSpring have that you’d like to share with them? How do they apply?

A: Our Books Beginning at Birth program is available to families across the state. It’s a program that provides young children and their families access to books and resources to support the development of early literacy skills and help them foster a love of reading. You can learn more at b3tx.org. All families can access an open library of hundreds of digital children’s books. Once enrolled, children may receive free print books delivered to their home twice a year until they turn five. (Supplies are limited and preference is given to children living in Texas Opportunity Zones.) Learn more and apply here.

In addition, in Central Texas (Travis, Williamson, and surrounding counties) we offer two in-person programs designed to reach children from birth through age 12:

  • Books for Me (ages 3–12): Provides “forever books” that children choose and take home through school or childcare center events. We provide up to four books per child with motivational activities and volunteer support for libraries.
  • ReadWell (ages 0–6): Partners with pediatricians to give books during well-child checkups.

We have a number of free Open Access resources that librarians can share:

  • Open Digital Library & Book App (ages 3-8): Over 1,200 free, flipbook, downloadable, printable books in English and Spanish.
  • Bibi’s Weekly Themes (ages 3–8): Sets of early childhood curriculum aligned books with guided activities for home learning.
  • Penny’s Rapid Reads (ages 9–12): A digital flash fiction e-zine with short, punchy stories perfect for tweens and independent readers.
  • Weekly Family Newsletter (Parents of children age 0-8): Free email delivered statewide with seasonal activities, book recommendations, and tips for parents to support daily reading. 

The joy on a child’s face when they choose and keep a book of their very own never gets old.

emily ball cicchini

Q: Can you tell us more about your program, ReadWell, where pediatricians give out free books at children’s annual well-checks?

A: ReadWell began when we recognized how trusted pediatricians are to families, and how powerful that moment can be to encourage daily reading. During annual well-child checkups, doctors give children an age-appropriate book and remind parents about the importance of reading aloud every day. Families tell us the program makes reading feel like a “doctor’s order” for healthy development. Clinics sign up with us for monthly or quarterly book shipments to support their efforts.

In 2024 alone, over 20,000 children received books through ReadWell. And because well-checks happen every year, these children grow up with a steady supply of new books tied to their developmental stages. We get continuously positive feedback from parents and providers, and research shows this model does improve kindergarten readiness.

Q: What inspires you on a daily basis in your work?

A: The joy on a child’s face when they choose and keep a book of their very own never gets old. Knowing that these moments build confidence, language, and family bonds inspires our team every single day.

Q: What’s a book you’ve read recently for fun, that you’d recommend?

A: I love poetry and have recently discovered Irish poet David Whyte. I recommend Essentials because he includes background information for each poem and invites us into a genuine conversation with reality. His writing doesn’t offer easy answers. It opens doors to deeper questions, showing profound insight into what it means to be human. Each page feels like both a challenge and a comfort, reminding me to live more fully present in the world. 

Q: Please tell us about your upcoming book, and about the plays you’ve written.

A: My new book is called Managing by Way of Impermanence: A Simple Method for More Enlightened Leadership. It’s a business book for the workplace, for people looking for guidance on how do I manage my team, how do I help my team deal with all the changes that are happening? It offers a compassionate approach to leadership that embraces uncertainty. The book is scheduled to come out in November.

My best-known play is Becoming Brontë. (This is a two-act play based on the early lives of Charlotte and Emily Brontë, who wrote Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, respectively.) It won the Austin Critic’s Table Award and is about a magnetic young curate who comes to stay with the Brontë family, sparking emotional upheaval between Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. You can learn more about my book, plays, and other work at www.emilyballcicchini.com.

Q: What else would you like to share with our readers?

A: We know librarians are champions of literacy, and we’d love to partner with you. Whether it’s hosting a Books for Me event, sharing our Digital Library, using Bibi’s Weekly Themes with PreK through second grade classrooms, recommending Penny’s Rapid Reads to tweens, or inviting families to sign up for our Weekly Newsletter, you play a critical role. Together, we can make sure every child in Texas has the chance to grow up with books.

Get started today:

Students enjoying their new books after participating in Books for Me at Manor ISD.

Rosenberg Library: Honoring the Past, Flourishing in the Present

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Library name: Rosenberg Library History Center & Museum

Location: 2310 Sealy Street, Galveston

Hours: Main Library hours Monday, Friday, and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday – Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; closed Sunday. Galveston & Texas History Center (appointments encouraged) Tuesday – Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. Rosenberg Library Museum, fourth floor galleries Monday – Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Second floor galleries open during main library hours. (All times Central.)

Learn more: Watch our video for an in-depth look at the Rosenberg Library.

What makes this library special:

Bridging the past and present, the Rosenberg Library History Center & Museum serves many parts of its vibrant community. The Galveston & Texas History Center, located on the fourth floor of the library, holds manuscripts, books, maps, photographs, and more, dating back to the 1800s. Also a thriving public library with numerous community events for children, teens, and adults, the Rosenberg is deeply rooted in the life of the city.

The Rosenberg is the oldest continuously operating library in Texas and the only public library on Galveston Island. The building was dedicated on June 22, 1904, on the birthday of its patron, Henry Rosenberg, a business leader and philanthropist who left $600,000 upon his death in 1893 to create the library (the equivalent of about $21 million today.) In 1971, the library expanded to double its floor space, allowing for a children’s library, history center, museum space, and, later, a computer lab.

A beautiful glass chandelier hangs alongside the spiral staircase at the Rosenberg. It’s seen here from bookshelves on the second floor.

Preserving history:

Sharon Batiste Gillins is a genealogist and historian who grew up in Galveston.

“Galveston is an island. The island vibe is a lot different than any other vibe,” Gillins said. “It’s relaxed, but it’s one that cherishes its history. This is a good place to be exposed to history. We are building on that every day so that we can continue to tell an evolving history of the island.”

 For her, the Rosenberg’s history center is a treasure trove of primary source documents.

“The center is full of primary source documents on the history of Galveston and this entire area,” she said. “If I am researching families… there are numerous resources here such as county histories that I can refer to. The historic newspaper records are important, the electronic databases are important, family history databases are important. I use the Sanborn Insurance Maps to find out the history of homes.” On a personal note, she began going to the Rosenberg as a child.

“The Rosenberg Library has always been part of my life,” Gillins said. “Some of the most important resources at the Rosenberg are its librarians. You can’t have a better friend at a library than a librarian.”

Gerrianne Schaad is the Special Collections Manager at the Rosenberg. “One of the things that makes us unique is that we span the history of Texas from the Republic to the current day,” Schaad said. “People forget about Galveston as a space that holds so much history. We have immigration, the port, finance, and commerce. The Strand (the downtown historic district) is very well known for Mardi Gras but that was the Wall Street of the South for years… Galveston has been here since the beginning. Being the site of the oldest library is just one more first and one more greatness that we can be proud of.”

What to look for as a first-time visitor: The statue of the library’s founder, Henry Rosenberg, in front of the library’s east entrance, is popular with visitors who often take their photos with it. The Great Storm of 1900 Exhibit on the fourth floor includes an interactive touch screen, oral histories from three different survivors, and a memorial wall. The museum exhibit areas on the second and fourth floors host a variety of rotating exhibits (learn more about their current exhibits). The beautiful first-floor children’s library area is a fun and interactive space. Make sure to check out Rose, the blue-tongued skink named after Henry Rosenberg.

Galveston has been here since the beginning. Being the site of the oldest library is just one more first and one more greatness that we can be proud of.

gerrianne schaad

The statue of Henry Rosenberg, at the library’s east entrance, is a popular photo spot with visitors.

Heart of the community:

The Rosenberg runs the Galveston Reads program each year, a “One Community, One Book” island-wide reading program where residents can get a free copy of the selected book, join in a broad range of events and discussions, and participate in an author visit. The 2025 selection was The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer.

Other popular events include the summer reading program and Rosenberg Day (an annual book sale and open house in March with activities for patrons of all ages).

Stephanie Davis, Community Engagement and Communications Coordinator for the Rosenberg Library, feels that the library ably balances its two primary roles as a historical archive and an active public library because of the cooperation of its staff members. “We have these separate entities, and we have the team members dedicated to those areas. What makes the Rosenberg special is that we all work together harmoniously, and we understand that each of the areas has a very unique value.”

And one last thing:

“I’d like to invite anyone who hasn’t visited the Rosenberg Library please stop by and see us, and if you’ve been here before, come back,” Davis said. “You’ve got to see it to understand. It’s not just a library, it’s a landmark. It’s a historical beauty. And when you walk through the doors, you really feel that.”

Photos courtesy of The Rosenberg Library.

This stained-glass window at the Rosenberg Library was a gift from the Lykes family, founders of the Lykes Brothers Steamship Company.

Article written by Michele Chan Santos, Coordinator, Texas Center for the Book

How Students with Dyslexia Can Benefit from the Talking Book Program

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The Talking Book Program (TBP) is one of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s most beloved programs. TBP provides free library services to qualifying Texans with visual, physical, or reading disabilities. TBP is part of the National Library Service to the Blind and Print Disabled, a program administered by the Library of Congress. While TBP is well-known for their assistance to those with visual disabilities, many people are unaware that TBP is also a great resource for students with dyslexia.

Alicia Topolnycky, TBP Engagement Specialist, sat down with us to talk about how TBP can help students with dyslexia.

Alicia Topolnycky, TBP Engagement Specialist

Q: In what ways can the Talking Book Program help students with dyslexia?

A: The Talking Book Program provides dyslexic students access to more than 169,000 audiobooks and audio magazines, completely free of charge. TBP’s collection includes literary classics that might be assigned reading at school, bestsellers, and fiction and nonfiction books in all genres, with more titles being added daily. The collection includes books for all ages and all reading levels. Students with dyslexia who listen to their books have an advantage in the classroom. Those who regularly listen to audiobooks can build better phonological awareness. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Central Arkansas found that reluctant readers who participated in an audiobook club at school became more excited about reading and their test scores improved. With TBP, a world of learning and imagination can open up for students with dyslexia.

Q: Who should schools contact here at TSLAC if they’d like to implement this program?

A: Schools can find the School Classroom Application Form on our website at www.texastalkingbooks.org. They will then email the completed form to our Reader Services team at tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov. If schools have any questions about signing up, they can call our team at 1-800-252-9605.

Q: Can parents also sign up for their child? How do you register?

A: To register, parents/guardians will need to submit an Individual Application form that states their child has a qualifying visual, physical, or reading disability. The form must then be certified by a non-family member called a “Certifying Authority,” who is any professional staff of a public or welfare agency, or any medical professional, who can confirm that the student’s disability prevents them from reading standard print materials.

Eligibility must be certified by one of the following: Doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, ophthalmologist, optometrist, psychologist, registered nurse, therapist, or professional staff of hospitals, institutions, public or welfare agencies (such as an educator, social worker, case worker, counselor, rehabilitation teacher, certified reading specialist, school psychologist, superintendent, or librarian). Applications cannot be certified by family members.

The application form is available in English and Spanish, as a fillable PDF, on our website www.texastalkingbooks.org.

With TBP, a world of learning and imagination can open up for students with dyslexia.

Alicia Topolnycky

Q: How old do students need to be to qualify for the program? What documentation do they need?

A: There is no minimum age for patrons of the Talking Book Program. Parents do not need to include any medical documentation or health insurance information in their application. Simply fill out the easy four-page application form, get it certified by a Certifying Authority, and send it to us.

Q: What type of device do they need to have to run BARD, and what if they don’t have a compatible device?

A: Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) works on any smartphone or tablet that has the Apple App Store or Google Play Store; including Chromebooks. BARD Express is available on any Windows-based desktop or laptop personal computer. If you don’t have one of those compatible devices, we can mail you one of our Digital Talking Book Machines, or DTBMs, along with some cartridges that are loaded up with your favorite audiobooks. The DTBM works offline and on-the-go.

Q: How many students in Texas are using TBP in this way?

A: There are currently more than 6,000 patrons under the age of 18 actively using TBP all across Texas.

Q: What resources are available to students and teachers?

A: In addition to thousands of books and magazines in audio format, TBP provides physical large print books and large print accessible games. Students and teachers can also benefit from personalized service from reader consultants and librarians, who can create custom bibliographies on nearly any topic from our available titles. Bilingual staff is available to assist those patrons who speak Spanish.

Q: What is the most common question you are hearing from families and schools, about TBP for students with dyslexia?

A: Families and schools are curious about how TBP compares with other audiobook services, especially those aimed at students with reading disabilities, like Learning Ally and Bookshare. All three services are available only to students with qualifying disabilities, have a robust number of titles in their collection, and are compatible with many playback devices. All three never have wait times; unlike some local libraries that deliver audiobooks through Libby or Hoopla. The difference is TBP doesn’t have textbooks nor a read-along component (where the text of a book scrolls across the screen while the audiobook plays), while Bookshare and Learning Ally do.

Q: What else would you like to share with our readers?

A: TBP has a department called the Disability Information and Referral Center (DIRC) that offers health-related information and answers to questions about disabilities. They have information about dyslexia resources, scholarships/grants, local support groups, medical equipment, assistive technology and more. The DIRC can be contacted by anyone in the state of Texas: you do not need to be a registered patron of TBP to use the DIRC’s free reference service.

Q: Where should people go for more information?

A: For more information about the Talking Book Program, make sure you visit our website www.texastalkingbooks.org, or call our Reader Services team at 1-800-252-9605. To stay in the loop about book clubs, author talks, the summer reading program and more events and services, parents can sign up for either our adult or youth monthly email newsletter! Educators who are interested in attending a CPE-eligible comprehensive training on the Talking Book Program can contact me at atopolnycky@tsl.texas.gov.

Poetry and Love: The Armstrong Browning Library honors Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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Library name: The Armstrong Browning Library & Museum, Baylor University

Location: 8th Street and Speight Avenue on the Baylor University campus; physical address is 710 Speight Avenue, Waco, Texas.

Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Visitor information.

Learn more: Watch our video for an in-depth look at the Armstrong Browning Library

What makes this library special: Stepping into this stunning library and museum feels like stepping into the nineteenth century. The marble columns, cathedral windows, parquet floors, and hand-carved bookcases are a perfect complement to the letters, volumes of poetry, and personal memorabilia of famed Victorian poets Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The Armstrong Browning Library & Museum is dedicated to the lives and works of these two poets and houses the world’s largest collection of Browning material and other rare nineteenth-century books, manuscripts, and works of art.

“I think what makes the Armstrong Browning Library special is that everything about it is unexpected—the architectural details, the colorful stained-glass windows, the works of art that you’ll see throughout the library,” said Director Jennifer Borderud.

“The fact that the world’s largest collection of materials relating to two major British poets would be here is unexpected. I love when people come and visit and they are surprised by what they see, and it immediately turns into a sense of awe.”

What to look for as a first-time visitor: “I would encourage first-time visitors to spend some time in the McLean Foyer of Meditation,” Borderud said. “It’s a grand room in the center of the building that was created to be a place of beauty, to be inspired, to be the next Chaucer, or Shakespeare, or Browning.”

The museum’s fabulous stained-glass windows are another must-see. “We are also known for the 62 stained glass windows that you will see throughout the building, most of which illustrate either Robert or Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poetry.”

The Brownings’ romance: The beautiful and tragic love story of the Brownings is one of the great literary romances in history. Elizabeth Barrett was a talented English poet who was chronically ill and kept at home by her controlling father. She fell in love with a fellow poet, Robert Browning, and they eloped to Italy, where they loved one another devotedly until her death 15 years later.

One of her best-known poems (Sonnet 43 from Sonnets from the Portuguese) begins “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” This poem is written on the wall in the McLean Foyer of Meditation next to a bronze sculpture of the couple’s clasped hands. The sculpture “stands as a symbol of their love story, and it also makes this room one of the most romantic spots on Baylor’s campus,” Borderud said.

Many Baylor couples have gotten engaged at this spot, and many have been married at the library, she said.

Dr. Kristen Pond, Associate Professor in English and Margarett Root Brown Chair in Robert Browning and Victorian Studies at Baylor, said she thinks the Brownings’ love story continues to resonate with readers around the world because “We know so much about it, they wrote so much about it, in their poetry and in their letters. It is a relationship that feels very genuine. They talk about the hardships they encountered; Elizabeth was very ill for most of her life. Robert coming in and being willing to partner with her through that just amazed her. You can hear that gratitude and amazement in her voice. That level of commitment and gratitude is part of love that doesn’t get talked about very much, and it appeals to people.”

The fact that the world’s largest collection of materials relating to two major British poets would be here is unexpected. I love when people come and visit and they are surprised by what they see, and it immediately turns into a sense of awe.

Jennifer borderud, director of the armstrong Browning library

History of the library: Baylor professor Dr. A.J. Armstrong, founder of the library, became interested in Robert Browning at an early age and began to collect books and items associated with the poet beginning in 1905. Visiting Italy in 1909, Armstrong met the poets’ son, Robert Barrett Browning, known as “Pen.” Armstrong continued to collect items, and in 1918 he donated the collection to Baylor.

The collection continues to grow to this day. Curator Laura French scouts and finds new material. “This can be rare books, manuscripts, ephemera, after you physically receive those materials it’s a matter of describing them in the online catalog so people can request them and get them to use them in the future,” she said. The collection includes “hundreds of their manuscripts, thousands of their letters, nearly every single volume of their works that have been published,” French said.

Audience for this library: Most of the researchers at the library are Baylor University graduate and undergraduate students and faculty, working on dissertations, articles, or class presentations, French said. Their Visiting Scholars program brings researchers in from across the United States and other countries for month-long fellowships.

And one last thing: You can schedule a group tour, or walk-in tours are often available, led by student docents. Make sure to check out the bronze doors—they weigh three-quarters of a ton each and are modeled after St. John’s Baptistery in Florence, Italy. The panels illustrate 10 of Robert Browning’s poems.

Borderud loves to see visitors’ faces light up when they see the library for the first time. More than 30,000 people visit each year.

“A visit to the Armstrong Browning Library is very worth your time, if you only have 10 minutes, that’s fine, if you have two hours, that is great,” she said. “But you will come away with a beautiful and memorable experience, and you will feel that sense of awe that I feel every time I come in here.”

Written by Michele Chan Santos, Coordinator, Texas Center for the Book

Above, the ceiling in the McLean Foyer of Meditation.

Letters About Literature Texas Celebrates the 2024-2025 Winners

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Above: Level 2 (Grade 7-8) winner Shireen Valasagandla with author Andrea Davis Pinkney.

At the Letters About Literature Texas awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, held at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas during the Texas Library Association 2025 Annual Conference, student winners from across the state were honored. Award-winning children’s author Andrea Davis Pinkney gave the keynote address.

The three first-place winners each read their letters aloud to the audience and received their awards. (Click the links below to read their winning letters.) Each first-place winner was given a certificate and $300, as well as an additional $300 for their school library.

Lily Qiu of Addison, Greenhill School, wrote to Kelly Yang, author of Front Desk.

Shireen Valasagandla of Round Rock, Ridgeview Middle School, wrote to Jessie Diggins, author of Brave Enough.

Kayla Padilla of Mission, PSJA Collegiate School of Health Professions, wrote to Michelle Zauner, author of Crying in H Mart.

Level 1 (Grade 4-6) winner Lily Qiu with her certificate, presented by Center for the Book Coordinator Michele Chan Santos.

Pinkney, the author, praised the students in her address.

“You have arrived with a wealth of letter-writing surprises, and you have filled us with so much joy. You have crafted letters that tell an unforgettable story,” Pinkney said. “It’s from so many of us who see you, hear you, cheer you, celebrate you, who you truly are—that is what we celebrate. A constellation of voices igniting the world. You are worthy of this. Because you sparkle, and you shine.”

Next, Pinkney shared the personal stories behind her newest book, And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison’s Life in Stories. It’s a picture book about legendary author Toni Morrison, illustrated by Daniel Minter. Pinkney worked as an editor for Morrison many years ago, and they were close friends.

Later, Pinkney signed copies of her book, Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It, and posed for photos with the winning students.

Level 3 (Grade 9-12) winner Kayla Padilla with Andrea Davis Pinkney.

In the Letters About Literature Texas competition, students read a book, poem, short story, or other written work and write a letter to an author—living or dead—explaining how his or her work changed their view of themselves or the world.

Hundreds of students entered from across the state, and the level of competition was high. There were three categories of competition: grades 4-6, grades 7-8, and grades 9-12.

You can find a full list of the winners here.

The Texas Center for the Book will open the 2025-2026 Letters About Literature competition this fall.

Creating a Reading Culture with the Texas Bluebonnet Award

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For 44 years, “Read Five: Then Decide” empowers elementary students to vote

By Michele Chan Santos

Coordinator, Texas Center for the Book

The Texas Bluebonnet Award (TBA) is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the United States and one of the only awards where the winning book is selected by children.

Each year, 20 books are chosen for the Texas Bluebonnet Award List. Schools and libraries around the state participate in the program, encouraging students to read a minimum of five books from the list. Last year, for example, more than 63,000 students voted, all from third through sixth grade. More than 1,100 schools, public libraries and homeschool groups participated. The TBA program is run by the Texas Library Association. The winning author (and illustrator, if a picture book is selected) are honored at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference every spring.

What makes TBA so special, and why has it survived—and thrived—over the decades? We spoke to Terri Harkey, Coordinator of the TBA program, to find out.

History of TBA

In the late 1970s, Dr. Janelle Paris, a professor in the Library Science Department at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, and Pat Wright, a librarian in Cypress Fairbanks ISD in Houston, launched an effort to create a state award for children’s literature, and the TBA was born. The first TBA winner was Ramona and Her Father, by Beverly Cleary, in 1981. (Here is the full list of winning titles, which includes books by Judy Blume, Kate DiCamillo and many other wonderful authors.)

How has the TBA program managed to stay successful and relevant through the years?

“I think the variety of genres that we try to incorporate in each list,” Harkey said, “has helped it stay meaningful. It’s not just picture books, it’s not just chapter books, it’s not just graphic novels—it’s all of those and more, a wide variety, and it encourages kids to read. We include many genres and then the quality of the books is always high.”

For the 2025-2026 list, for example, the TBA committee of librarians evaluated more than 1,000 books. “We really try to pick books that we feel kids will like and enjoy reading,” Harkey said.

The second key to TBA’s long success is student involvement, she said.

Every year at the Texas Book Festival, students announce the books selected for the list; then students across the state vote for their favorite book; the winner is announced in February, and in April, student presenters at the TLA Conference present the award to the winning author.

As a school librarian, you have to figure out a way to create a reading culture, because as a librarian that, to me, is your responsibility.

Terri harkey, texas bluebonnet award coordinator

How TBA benefits students and schools

Harkey is a retired librarian and instructional technology educator who worked in Texas schools for more than 25 years. She’s seen firsthand how participating in TBA built a reading culture at the schools where she was the lead librarian.

Each fall, the TBA list for the following school year is released (for example, in November 2024 the list for 2025-2026 was released.) This gives schools and students more than a year to read the books before voting by the January deadline for their favorites.  

“As a school librarian, you have to figure out a way to create a reading culture, because as a librarian that, to me, is your responsibility,” Harkey said. “Whether you’re using the Bluebonnet list, or one of the other TLA lists, you are creating a community by reading the same books.”

At her schools, Harkey created a “Bluebonnet Superstar List,” a posted list on the library door naming all the students who had read at least five books from the list. (The TBA program slogan is “Read Five: Then Decide” — there are 20 books on the list, but students need only to read five to be able to vote.) Students were highly motivated to read the books so they could be included, she said.

Schools across Texas hold Bluebonnet voting parties, where the third through sixth graders come to vote at their school library. For many elementary schools, the Bluebonnet parties are a highlight of the school year. They frequently feature blue refreshments (frosted cookies, blueberry muffins, blue Gatorade), as well as games and activities, often themed to match books on the list.

“The last year that I did it, I had 147 kids come to our TBA voting party,” Harkey said.

How to participate

If you’d like your school or public library to participate in TBA, but you are new to the program, a good place to begin is the TBA website which is full of resources for each title on the list, Harkey said. Resources include readers’ theaters, book trailers, author interviews, discussion questions and more.

For librarians attending the TLA Annual Conference, tickets are available for the TBA Author Session where the award is presented (the luncheon is $59 for members, $69 for non-members), as well as Speed Dating the Bluebonnets, where authors with books on the upcoming year’s list come to meet with librarians and discuss their books.

To register to vote

TBA has an instructional page with directions on how to tally student votes, enter them and submit. There is a $20 charge for each school to participate. More information is available on the FAQ page.

If you have additional questions, Harkey encourages you to reach out to a TBA Committee member, to her, to TLA, or a librarian in your area that has participated in the program before.

Transforming authors’ lives

Another benefit of the TBA program is the recognition it brings to authors. For debut authors who have a book on the list, it is a launching pad to greater recognition in the publishing world, and a way to connect with thousands of young readers.

When Susan Stevens Crummel won the TBA Award in 2010 for Help Me, Mr. Mutt! Expert Answers for Dogs with People Problems (written with Janet Stevens) “it changed her from being a math teacher to being a full-time author who visits schools,” Harkey said. “It changed her life.” (Help Me, Mr. Mutt! is a humorous picture book about a dog advice columnist – a fun read for dog lovers of any age.)

In 2024, author and illustrator Charly Palmer received the Texas Bluebonnet Award for his book The Legend of Gravity: A Tall Basketball Tale. This beautifully illustrated picture book is the fictional story of the Hillside Projects basketball team.

In his video accepting the award, Palmer said, “I am truly humbled, surprised and honored to receive this award. I never imagined winning this. I saw myself as an illustrator, not a writer. To write it in a way that children are inspired and chose it for the Bluebonnet Award is beyond my imagination.”

Wong Scholarship Winner Inspired by Public Library Service

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Lina Burklin is the recipient of the 2025 Martha Wong Scholarship, awarded by the Texas Library and Archives Foundation. This new scholarship opportunity supports students enrolled in a Texas library/information science or school library certification program with a reimbursable grant of $2,000 for tuition and/or textbooks. Burklin is currently working as the cataloguer at the Judy B. McDonald Public Library in Nacogdoches while earning her Master of Library Science degree from Texas Woman’s University. We enjoyed getting to know her and think you will, too.

Q: Congratulations on winning the Wong Scholarship! What does winning this scholarship mean to you?

A: I was surprised and just so honored that my application was chosen. I mean, I know there are many wonderful people pursuing library science degrees in Texas right now. It’s been a big encouragement, since I’m making a career shift from teaching into library science. And it’s helping me see that I’m in the right place, that I’m making a difference where I am, and it’s encouraging to have that recognized.

Q: What inspired you to become a librarian?

A: I’ve been a lifelong avid reader, ever since I can remember. As a teacher, I’ve always loved teaching literature and creative writing. It was time to do something new with my career [Burklin taught middle school for 14 years], and I was looking for something where I’d still be helping people, working with people, and educating. And there’s a whole lot of that in library science. And my grandmother was also a librarian.

Q: Tell me about your experiences working in a public library.

A: I love that you just never know what’s going to happen from day to day. I’ve done a little bit of everything, including shelving, book repair, book processing. Right now, I’m a cataloger, so I’m doing logging and processing. I’m also selecting some books, which is fun. I’ve been asked to do things from proofreading people’s resumes to tech support where people hand me their phone and ask me to make it work. People ask for book recommendations. I did have somebody come in and ask me to get him a divorce, and I had to explain I couldn’t do that, that’s not a service we provide [laughs]. I did help him go to texaslawhelp.org, to help him with the process. It’s just so many things, but it’s great. And I have some of the best coworkers.

We tend to think of libraries as connecting people with information, which of course they do, but we also do a lot of connecting people with resources. People who need help and they don’t even know where to start, will come to us.

Lina Burklin

Q: In your MLS studies at Texas Woman’s University, is there a favorite class or professor you’d like to mention? What has been the most rewarding part about your studies?

A: This is my third semester. [The MLS degree program at Texas Woman’s University is available entirely online.] And in my first semester, I took Dr. Aaron Elkins’ Foundations of Library Studies. And it was just so phenomenal. I feel like I learned so much from that intro course. And one of the things he does that I love is a weekly Zoom call with the class. And initially I was like, “Oh this is going to be so annoying.” But it became one of my favorite things. We’d get a chance to interact with him and with each other. He would lecture, and then we would break into small groups and get to talk with people. Just to talk to other people was huge.  

Q: Who are three of your favorite authors (living or dead)?

A: Well, I was glad you asked for three and not just one, because that’s such a hard question. And even three, I had to really think about it. Brandon Sanderson (the Mistborn series and The Stormlight Archive) is one of my favorite authors, I love science fiction and fantasy. Rosemary Sutcliff (The Eagle of the Ninth) is a British author of historical fiction who has spoiled me for most other historical fiction. And J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings). The stories are just so, so powerful.

Q: What is a Texas book (by a Texan, or set in Texas, or both) that you’d recommend to our readers, and why?

A: I read very widely, and not specifically geographically, but I think I’d have to come back to Holes, by Louis Sachar. As a teacher, it was one of my favorite books to teach. And I loved it because my kids, for the first two sessions, were like, “This book is dumb, why are we doing this?” But then by the second or third time, they’d be like, “Don’t stop reading!” Because they were so into the story. I love the complexity of the story; I love that it’s about friendship, and the about the power of choices. What we do matters.

Q: In your scholarship application, you wrote very eloquently about the importance of libraries to a community. Could you share some of your answer with us here today?

A: Once I started working in libraries, I realized just how vital they were as a way of connecting people. We tend to think of libraries as connecting people with information, which of course they do, but we also do a lot of connecting people with resources. People who need help and they don’t even know where to start, will come to us. We share with them: here are organizations that can help you locally, these are places you can go. And libraries are also a way to connect with community, for example through our various programs. People meet at a library program who might not meet anywhere else, and find out they have common interests.

And in our culture, there’s just not a lot of places you can just go and be and you are not expected to buy something. And I also realize for a lot of our patrons, we’re the first people who have listened to them that day, it’s obvious. To get a chance to work with people who might not have anywhere else to go—I wish we could do more. Sometimes they just need to talk and have someone listen, and it’s such a privilege to be able to provide that.

Q: Where do you picture yourself five years from now?

A: I don’t have a specific place in mind, so much, but obviously I want to stay in public libraries. I’ve just really fallen in love with what we offer at public libraries and what we do. I’d like to gain some experience with reference work, but I hope I’m still cataloging in five years.

Q: Do you have a favorite genre you like to read and why?

A: I enjoy science fiction and fantasy for many reasons. I think the question “What if?” is so profound. What if this was the way the world worked? What if you could live on another planet, or what if magic was just part of the laws of science? Fiction gives you a way to see situations from a new perspective.

Q: What’s the first book you ever loved?

A: It’s a series: C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia. My mom read those out loud to use when we were kids. I just love that world so much. I always hoped that somehow, I’d open a cupboard and be able to slip into Narnia myself.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

Ten Questions with Texas Poet Laureate Amanda Johnston

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Photo by Cindy Elizabeth

Amanda Johnston is the 2024 Texas Poet Laureate, selected by the Texas Commission on the Arts. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Maine. She is the author of two chapbooks, GUAP and Lock & Key, and the full-length collection Another Way to Say Enter. Her work has appeared in numerous online and print publications and she recently represented Texas at the National Book Festival. Praisesong for the People is her statewide poetry project celebrating everyday Texans; this project is supported by the Academy of American Poets and the Mellon Foundation. (It includes this beautiful tribute to bus drivers by Naomi Shihab Nye.)

In today’s TCFB blog, we get to know Amanda a little better:

What’s the first book you ever loved?

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein. My mother gave it to me when I was very young, and I was drawn to the risk and play of it. I still read and enjoy Silverstein’s books today.

Your grandson is six years old, such a fun age for books. What is a book you enjoy reading together?

Little Rabbit’s Loose Tooth. My grandson is losing his baby teeth, and it’s fun to read about the soft foods Little Rabbit gets to eat, like ice cream and pudding, and the creative things you can make with a baby rabbit tooth while waiting for the tooth fairy.

What is your favorite taco in Austin?

That’s a hard question! My go-to tacos are the grilled chicken from Veracruz or the Democrat from Torchy’s.

What does being the Texas Poet Laureate mean to you?

It’s an honor to be Texas Poet Laureate and I love being in service to poetry, poets, and poetry lovers across the state. I’m dedicated to amplifying the work of other poets for the literary enjoyment of us all. I’m grateful to the Academy of American Poets and the Mellon Foundation for making my project, Praisesong for the People, possible. I’m moved by each poem that celebrates someone in Texas who positively impacted the lives of these poets. In the spring we’ll share writer guides by award-winning educators to encourage K-12 students to read, write, and share praise poems. I think it’s a beautiful way to engage with literature and spread kindness to the people in our lives.

The last time I danced was…

At the Furious Flower Conference at James Madison University. The conference is held once every 10 years and gathers Black poets from around the world. It was like a big family reunion and, much like a family reunion, there was music, dancing, and a lot of hugs, but there was also incredible soul-stirring poetry everywhere.

It’s an honor to be Texas Poet Laureate and I love being in service to poetry, poets, and poetry lovers across the state.

amanda johnston

Two things that make me laugh are…

Babies dancing and dogs acting like people.

What three authors (living or dead) would you like to have dinner with and why?

Lucille Clifton, Colleen J. McElroy, and Toni Morrison. The food and conversation would be epic!

Besides poetry, what’s your favorite genre to read?

Fiction, especially short stories. I am in awe of how a masterful writer can create a gripping story in just a few pages. Read short stories by LaToya Watkins and Jhumpa Lahiri. 

What’s one of your all-time treasured books to recommend?

The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother, is the autobiography and memoir of James McBride.

My favorite place in Texas is…

At home with my family, or at the library or an independent bookstore, or driving down a Texas highway in the spring watching a sea of bluebonnets roll by.