¡Mil gracias, Rio Grande Valley! We feel very lucky for the opportunity to have virtually visited elementary schools in Mission, Edinburg, Pharr, and Weslaco in our beautiful Rio Grande Valley for our Reading Rock Stars program last week. Students got to meet authors and illustrators: Rebecca Gomez, Elisa Chavarri, Michael Genhart, David Bowles, Raúl The Third, Isabel Quintero, Zeke Peña, Jon Scieszka, and Steven Weinberg.

We would like to first thank our librarians at elementary schools: Hurla Midkiff, Bryan, Guillermo Flores, E.B. Guerra, César Chávez, and Dr. R.E. Margo. Despite the many challenges of this school year, librarians invited us back on campus with open arms and led the way in bringing a virtual and engaging Reading Rock Stars program to their students. ¡Gracias!

Thank you to all of our authors and illustrators for highlighting the community cultural wealth of South Texas and its bilingual and bicultural excellence. We loved going to the market with Federico, listening to accordion music with Abuelo and Opa, experiencing Mayan Mexico with Sayam, joining Lupe and friends on a lowrider adventure, cruising on a motorcycle with Daisy Ramona, and especially traveling to outer space with the Astro-nuts. Your love for reading and illustration shined over our reading rock stars!

Thank you to all our generous sponsors, including UT Rio Grande Valley, H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Texas Cultural Trust, and Fox Pest Control. Our Reading Rock Stars program in the Rio Grande Valley is definitely a yearly highlight and we truly hope to return in person in 2022. Stop by the Reading Rock Stars resource center for fun educational activities!