The Texas Book Festival brings books to life for young readers through Reading Rock Stars, a dynamic program in which selected authors from across the country are invited to present their works to students in economically-disadvantaged public schools. At the end of the presentations, each child receives an autographed copy of the book, and a set of books is also given to the school library.
"Reading Rock Stars affords students an opportunity to interact with an author – an experience that most of them have never had," says Heidi Smith, the Festival's executive director. “This gets the students not only excited about reading, but also provides them a unique learning experience.”
Check out pictures from Reading Rock Stars in Austin on October 31st:
Originally created to serve children in the Austin area, the Reading Rock Stars program is expanding each year. With support from the Meadows Foundation of Texas, Target, and a number of other generous foundations and individuals, underserved students in the Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio are also benefiting from Reading Rock Stars in 2008-2009.
