SAN ANTONIO \u2013 A school bus filled with books rolled up to Mark Twain Dual Language Academy this week, giving students the chance to pick out stories they can take home and keep.<\/p>\n
The visit is part of the Book Buddies program, run by the SAISD Foundation, which distributes thousands of books each year to students across the district.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe give out four to six books to every student in SAISD that we come and visit with our Book Buddies bus,\u201d said Carrie Smith with the SAISD Foundation.<\/p>\n
Students said the program makes reading more accessible \u2014 especially for families who may not always be able to purchase books.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s some families that don\u2019t have enough money to get books,\u201d said sixth grader Diego Fernandez.<\/p>\n
Second grader Noah Martinez said the best part is the books are theirs to keep.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t need to return them,\u201d Martinez said. \u201cYou can keep them and finish the book and read it again and again and again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students also had plenty of opinions about their favorite kinds of books.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to read \u2018Dog Man\u2019, \u2018Captain Underpants\u2019, maybe \u2018National Geographic,\u2019 and some books about history,\u201d Martinez said.<\/p>\n
First grader Cameron Miller said he enjoys reading books in Spanish.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first two books, it\u2019s like Spanish \u2014 it is Pica Pica Varicela and La Mecha Sorpresa,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n
The SAISD Foundation said programs like Book Buddies help build home libraries for students throughout their school years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout their time in SAISD, they will have built up a pretty big home library that they will have access to anytime they want to read a book,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
To help support the program, the Battle of Flowers Association is hosting a book drive ahead of Fiesta.<\/p>\n
Organizers said it aligns with this year\u2019s parade theme: \u201cPages to Possibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of our mission statements is education, and we just feel strongly that we want to help our community,\u201d said Melinda Biggs with the Battle of Flowers Association. \u201cIt\u2019s a great way to help kids learn to read.\u201d<\/p>\n
The book drive will take place at 10 a.m. March 21 at Amols\u2019 Party and Fiesta Store.<\/p>\n
Organizers hope to collect 1,000 books to help fill Book Buddies buses. The first 100 people who donate will receive a free Fiesta medal and a gift card to Amols\u2019.<\/p>\n
Students said even a small donation can make a big difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very kind for people to donate books,\u201d Fernandez said. \u201cIf you read, it brings the level of people\u2019s knowledge up, so it\u2019s important for people to bring more books.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read also:<\/p>\n
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