Festiba 2008 - Texas Book Festival

READING ROCK STARS INFORMATION

Reading Rock Stars, formerly known as Author! Author!, has been in existence for over ten years. The program was restructured in 2005 and has been growing rapidly ever since. Reading Rock Stars allows economically disadvantaged students to have access to national authors and their books. The purpose of this project is to improve students' reading and writing skills and cultivate an interest in reading. Reading Rock Stars is a way to bring books alive for children who may not have books of their own. In the past, each author presented two 45-minute sessions, and each child attending received an autographed book by the author at that school. All participating school libraries receive a set of books from the participating authors; these books are then available to all students and teachers in the school.

Reading Rock Stars began as a program for the Austin area. With the support of a grant from the Meadows Foundation, the Texas Book Festival will expand the program throughout the Rio Grande Valley and across the state.

In 2007, the Texas Book Festival gave books to more than 3,000 students in the Austin area through the Reading Rock Stars program. The 2008 program will expand to eight or more schools and reach about 5,000 children. Over the next two years, the Meadows Foundation grant will help grow the program to approximately 17 schools outside of Austin reaching about 10,000 children.

READING ROCK STARS IN THE VALLEY

In collaboration with The University of Texas-Pan American and the Region One Education Service Center, the Texas Book Festival will present Reading Rock Stars to South Texas on March 25-26, 2008. After receiving over 70 applications from the Rio Grande Valley area, six schools were chosen to participate, reaching 3,500 children. The schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Emma Vera Elementary: Carmen Tafolla, What Can You do with a Rebozo?
Xavier Garza, Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys

Chavez Elementary: Rene Colato Lainez, I am René, the Boy/ Soy René, El Niño
René Saldaña, Jr., The Jumping Tree

Escandon Elementary: Diane Gonzales Bertrand, Ricardo's Race/ La Carrera De Ricardo and The Ruiz Street Kids / Los Muchachos de la Calle Ruiz

Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Rio Hondo Elementary: Amada Irma Perez, Nana’s Big Surprise

Kennedy Elementary: Carmen Tafolla, That’s Not Fair!/ No Es Justo!
René Saldaña, Jr., The Jumping Tree

Fields Elementary: Lee Merrill Byrd, Treasures on Gold Street
               Carmen Tafolla, That’s Not Fair/ No Es Justo!