DALE, Texas — H-E-B and the Kendra Scott Foundation have partnered to open the first of six Yellow Libraries in Title I elementary schools across Texas, expanding access to literacy resources.
On Monday, September 8, the first Yellow Library was unveiled at Camino Real Elementary School in Dale, Texas.
At the event, Camila Alves McConaughey, an entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author, read her children’s book “Just Try One Bite” to third-grade students.
Camino Real Elementary received over 250 diverse and bilingual books, a custom yellow bookshelf, a literacy grant, and student take-home bags aimed at fostering a lifelong love of reading.
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Since its inception in 2022, the Kendra Scott Foundation’s Yellow Library initiative has launched 22 libraries nationwide, impacting more than 8,000 students and donating 11,000 books. The program, in partnership with First Book, ensures students have access to multicultural and bilingual books that reflect their communities while supporting educators. By the end of 2025, the foundation plans to open over 20 additional Yellow Libraries across the U.S.
The partnership builds on H-E-B’s Read 3 program, which encourages parents and caregivers to read with children at least three times a week. Launched in 2011, the program has donated over 6 million books to Texas children through various channels, including schools and community events. Each September, Read 3 hosts the Big Texas Read In, uniting more than 100,000 students statewide to read simultaneously.
The Kendra Scott Foundation emphasizes the importance of literacy in shaping a child’s future, noting that proficiency in reading by the third grade is crucial for academic success and lifelong learning. The Yellow Library program aims to provide lasting literacy support to schools by facilitating access to diverse and bilingual books, ensuring every student can see themselves reflected in their reading materials.