{"id":280,"date":"2025-10-08T18:06:59","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T18:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/tcfb\/?p=280"},"modified":"2026-04-06T13:45:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T13:45:37","slug":"bookspring-launching-children-into-a-world-of-reading","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/tcfb\/bookspring-launching-children-into-a-world-of-reading\/","title":{"rendered":"BookSpring: Launching Children into a Love of Books"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Above, families and children enjoy storytime with Batman at BookSpring Fest 2025.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This month, the Texas Center for the Book is honored to have Emily Ball Cicchini, Executive Director of BookSpring<\/strong><\/a>, talk with us about her wonderful organization, which focuses on building literacy skills for children. Emily is also an author and playwright, so we\u2019ll be discussing that, too! Thank you for joining us, Emily!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Emily Ball Cicchini, Executive Director of BookSpring<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: For our readers, please tell us about what BookSpring is and what it does.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: BookSpring<\/strong><\/a> 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\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: The audience for our blog is public and school librarians in Texas. What programs does BookSpring have that you\u2019d like to share with them? How do they apply?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: Our Books Beginning at Birth<\/strong><\/a> program is available to families across the state. It\u2019s 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<\/strong><\/a>. All families can access an open library of hundreds of digital children\u2019s 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<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n