About the Program

The Texas Book Festival’s Reading Rock Stars program is a hands-on literacy initiative that sends nationally recognized authors into Title I elementary schools in Texas to inspire young readers with dynamic presentations and send them home with the most empowering experience of all – owning their very own book. The Texas Book Festival funds and coordinates the author visits and donates the books to the children as well as a set of books to each school’s library.

The program currently serves schools in Austin, the Rio Grande Valley, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth, with strategic plan to grow the number of schools served in each geographic area.

Impact

Since the inception of the program, the Texas Book Festival has donated more than 151,000 books to students in Title I schools and provided 675 author visits.

Want to bring Reading Rock Stars to your school?

The Reading Rock Stars program is available to Title I Elementary schools in Austin, the Rio Grande Valley, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. Title I eligibility means that at least 50% of children in the school’s population qualify for free or reduced priced lunches.

Austin: The application window for Austin area schools will open on May 1st, 2023.

Rio Grande Valley: The application window for Rio Grande Valley schools will open on May 1st, 2023.

Houston (Aldine ISD): The application window for Houston schools will open on May 1st, 2023.

Dallas: The application window for Dallas schools will open on May 1st, 2023.

Fort Worth: The application window for Fort Worth schools will open on May 1st, 2023.

El Paso: El Paso is not open to new applicants in 2023.

For information on applying to Reading Rock Stars or financially supporting the expansion of the program, email michelle@texasbookfestival.org.

Video by One Story Productions