Articles

Humanities Texas recently launched two new rounds of Texas Storytime, our bilingual family reading program, at El Progreso Memorial Library in Uvalde and at Oak Springs Elementary School in Austin. El Progreso Memorial Library held a program in spring 2024 and a fall series that concluded on November 5. The Oak Springs program took place in September.

Texas Storytime supports school readiness and promotes early childhood literacy. Regularly held in Title I-funded schools and public libraries, Texas Storytime aims to cultivate a culture of reading and achieve higher levels of involvement among parents, teachers, and community members.

Through a partnership with El Progreso Memorial Library in Uvalde, Humanities Texas collaborated with library director Tammie Sinclair, early childhood literacy scholar Gina Stocks, and children's librarian Martha Carreon to shape the program according to the needs of the local community. Enthusiastic parents brought their families back to the library each week. After the second session of the spring program, one participating parent remarked, "We are loving this program. It's fun, full of learning, creative, and lots more."

Texas Storytime's faculty director, Denise Dávila of The University of Texas at Austin, facilitated the sessions at Oak Springs Elementary, supported by pre-service teachers in UT Austin's College of Education.

At each event, facilitators present dynamic readings, and families join in book-related activities. All participants share snacks, enjoy craft and activity time, and receive complimentary copies of the week's featured book.