Patricia Ortiz/Houston Public Media
Three Alief ISD elementary schools have received a Little Yellow Library, a custom-designed bookshelf that provides 200 multicultural and bilingual books.
The books come from a partnership between Kendra Scott and a non-profit known as First Book. First Book works to remove barriers to education for kids in need.
Jacqueline Kuwitzky is the Programs Manager for Kendra Scott and the Kendra Scott Foundation. She said Little Yellow Libraries have gone to disadvantaged classrooms nationwide.
“We were realizing that kids didn’t have access to brand-new books. Especially those bilingual books that are unfortunately more expensive than the normal library book,” she said. “And so, our goal is really for kids to see themselves in the books.”
Little Yellow Libraries have also reached schools in Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. On Wednesday, Hearne Elementary School received its library. Both Sneed Elementary and Best Elementary in Alief ISD have also received a library and all three schools also received a $2,500 grant to support additional library funds.
Kuwitzky added that schools are provided a catalog of books to choose from, and librarians ultimately decide which books they would like for their school. Alief ISD’s Superintendent, Dr. Anthony Mays, said having a variety of books is important for his community.
“We’re one of the most diverse communities in Houston, Texas,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of varying interests, and I think we come together pretty well to have conversations about what works for our students and usually it doesn’t result in a bunch of chaos that you may see in some other areas.”
School districts like Katy ISD and libraries like Montgomery County’s system have seen different types of book-review policies. Other school districts like Spring Branch ISD have cut librarians because of budget concerns.
Johanna Sanchez is the Principal of Hearne Elementary School. She said books, especially physical ones, promote creativity and learning.
“[Books] can take you anywhere. They inspire dreams, they inspire imagination, creativity,” she said. “It also helps to build fluency, as well as the foundational skills of building from sight words all the way up to reading comprehension,” she said. “… We need books. Not audiobooks all of the time, or not even books online, but actually touching books, feel the pages, see the words, see the pictures that our students can use their vision to actually see what the books are about.”
