Texas Summer Reading Programs (1958-2015)
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission sponsored the Texas Reading Club from 1958-2012, and hosted Texas Teens Read! from 2008-2012. These articles published in the Texas Library Association's Texas Library Journal provide an overview of the programs.
2008 Texas Reading Club Jubilee Celebration / History of the Texas Reading Club 1958-2008 / Texas Teens Read!
Collaborative Summer Library Program Themes (2013-2016)
The Texas State Library joined joined the national Collaborative Summer Library Program in 2013.
2016 - On Your Mark, Get Set...Read! (Children’s and Early Literacy Programs) | Get in the Game - Read (Teen Program) | Exercise Your Mind. Read! (Adult Program) | On Your Mark, Get Set...Read (All Ages Program)
2015 - Every Hero Has a Story (Children's and Early Literacy) | Unmask (Teen) | Escape the Ordinary (Adult)
2014 - Fizz, Boom, READ! (Children's and Early Literacy) | Spark a Reaction (Teen) | Literary Elements (Adult)
2013 – Dig Into Reading (Children’s and Early Literacy) | Beneath the Surface (Teen) | Groundbreaking Reads (Adult)
Texas Reading Club (1958-2012) and Texas Teens Read! (2008-2012) Artwork and Themes
Click here to view a Gallery of Texas Reading Club Artwork from 1958-2008
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The Texas Reading Club (TRC) was designed to encourage youth to read for pleasure, retain learning gained during the school year and to promote the role of public and school libraries in early literacy, K-12 and beyond. Each year, a theme was chosen and a programming manual was created by Texas librarians to aid in planning and educational programming. The State Library also provided posters, reading logs, bookmarks, and certificates to support the program. The Texas State Library began contracting with nationally-acclaimed illustrators of children's books to create artwork for the Reading Club in 1991. The purpose of Texas Teens Read! (TTR) was to encourage teens to read during their summer vacations and become lifelong readers and library users, to establish the library as a safe and engaging space for teens. A statewide theme was selected annually and a handbook was created to assist libraries in planning their summer programs. |
Texas Reading Club and Texas Teens Read! Program Themes, Artists, Artwork, and Manuals
- A unique theme was selected annually for the Texas Reading Club and manual with programming ideas for children based on the theme was published beginning in 1968.
- A chapter with bilingual programming ideas for children and families was added beginning in 2001.
- A chapter with programming ideas for teens was added beginning in 2002.
- Beginning in 2008, a separate annual theme was selected for Texas Teens Read!, a manual with programming ideas for teens was published, and unique artwork was created for teens.
- The Texas Reading Club and Texas Teens Read! programming manuals from 2002-2012 are available on the Texas State Library website. Click on the links below to view the programming manuals, artwork, and more for each annual theme.
| Year | Texas Reading Club Theme/Artist | Texas Teens Read! Theme/Artist |
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| 2012 | Get a Clue...At the Library Bruce Hale |
TSI: Realm of the Unknown Kim Doner |
| 2011 | Dig Up a Good Book Keith Graves |
Going Global, Staying Connected! Christy Stallop |
| 2010 | Catch the Reading Express Kim Doner |
Within Arms Reach: The Future Is Yours! Angela Martini |
| 2009 | Libraries: Deep in the Heart of Texas! Joy Fisher Hein |
Time Twistin' TTR.09 Emily Fiegenschuh |
| 2008 | Texas Reading Club Jubilee: 1959-2008 Janet Stevens |
Game On! Rod Espinosa |
| 2007 | Sail Away With Books! Diane Stanley |
chapter - "Sail Away with Your Imagination" |
| 2006 | Reading: The Sport of Champions Frank Remkiewicz |
chapter - "Reading: The Sport of Champions!" |
| 2005 | Go Wild...Read! Michael Austin |
chapter - "Get Wild...Read!" |
| 2004 | Color Your World...Read! Diane Greenseid |
chapter - "Color Me Cool!" |
| 2003 | Mission Possible: Spy a Book! G. Brian Karas |
chapter - "Operation: Top Secret!" |
| 2002 | Read Across Texas! James Warhola |
chapter - "Travel Quest: Moving Without Motion" |
| 2001 | To the Library and Beyond! Mark Teague |
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| 2000 | Invent the Future! Read! Brian Floca |
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| 1999 | Open a Book~On With the Show! Raúl Colón |
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| 1998 | Furry Tails! Funny Tales! Lynn Munsinger |
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| 1997 | Incredible Dream Machine Alexandra Day |
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| 1996 | Ready...Set...Read! Kevin Henkes |
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| 1995 | Once Upon a Planet Denise Fleming |
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| 1994 | Familiar Faces...Faraway Places! David Wisniewski |
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| 1993 | Lions, and Tigers, and Books...Oh My! Felicia Bond |
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| 1992 | Discover the New World of Reading Steven Kellogg |
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| 1991 | Camp Wanna-Read James Marshall |
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| 1990 | The Secret Code Is...Read | |
| 1989 | Creature Features | |
| 1988 | Trailblazers, Stargazers | |
| 1987 | Animal Antics | |
| 1986 | Celebrate Texas | |
| 1985 | Awesome Adventure | |
| 1984 | Magical Mysteries | |
| 1983 | Reading Rodeo | |
| 1982 | Space Capers | |
| 1981 | Monster Madness | |
| 1980 | Sports Splash | |
| 1979 | In Search of Texas Treasures | |
| 1978 | Come to Chimera! | |
| 1977 | Jungle Journey | |
| 1976 | Movin' On...Then and Now | |
| 1975 | Cross-Country with a Hero | |
| 1974 | Take a Giant Step | |
| 1973 | Be a READasaurus | |
| 1972 | Climb a Little This Summer | |
| 1971 | Dangerous Mission | |
| 1970 | There is No Frigate Like a Book to Take Us Lands Away | |
| 1966-1969 | Vacation Readers Go Everywhere | |
| 1965 | Open Your Future - Read | |
| 1964 | records unavailable | |
| 1963 | Read! The Fifth Freedom...Enjoy It | |
| 1962 | Read and Watch Your World Grow | |
| 1959-1961 | Texas Reading Roundup | |
| 1958 | Space Flight |
Bilingual Program Chapters
Texas Reading Club Manuals published from 2001 and 2012 include a chapter with bilingual programs for children, teens, and families. The Bilingual Chapters of the 2001 and 2002 Texas Reading Club Manuals were compiled into a manual, Digame un Cuento/Tell Me a Story: Bilingual Library Programs for Children and Families, by Elida Guardia Bonet, Paola Ferate-Soto, Josefina Rodriguez-Gibbs, Nohemi Lopez and Maricela Moreyra-Torres. The bilingual chapters of manuals published between 2003 and 2012 may be accessed from the links provided above.