Read Across Texas: Empathy

Return to Previous Page

Read Across Texas: Empathy Title Banner

BookPeople is proud to partner with Texas Center for the Book and the Texas Library and Archives Foundation for their 2023 statewide community reading campaign: Read Across Texas: Empathy.

Read Across Texas: Empathy will offer libraries a broad canvas for convening individuals and groups to explore the unique questions, challenges and solidarity that can occur in communities throughout the state. During the recent years of difficulties, division, isolation and loss, the TCFB recognizes the importance of sharing our stories to build understanding and support. Literature—by definition a way of sharing in a story other than our own—can be one of the many routes to empathy.

Learn More About the Texas Center for the Book
Learn More About Read Across Texas: Empathy

Please Consider Donating to Read Across Texas: Empathy

  • Read Across Texas: Empathy promo graphic. Illustration of an orange van with books on top driving down a desert road.

The Texas Center for the Book invites libraries and readers statewide to join in its 2023 reading campaign. Read Across Texas: Empathy encourages libraries to use books as a bridge and host discussions around the theme of “empathy.” Learn more about the selected titles below. For every $146 dollars donated, libraries will receive a bundle of 10 books to use in their programs. Every donation and dollar helps.

$
Add to wish list

We're excited to kick off the 2023 campaign by announcing four book selections that give communities a platform to engage in challenging, insightful and transformative conversations.

Voices in the Air Cover

Voices in the Air: Poems for Listeners

Nye, Naomi Shihab
$7.99
Truth Worth Telling Cover

Truth Worth Telling: A Reporter's Search for Meaning in the Stories of Our Times

Pelley, Scott
$17.99
Remarkably Bright Creatures Cover

Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel

Van Pelt, Shelby
$27.99
Milo Imagines the World Cover

Milo Imagines the World

de la Peña, Matt
$18.99

Read Across Texas 2023 Activities

Community activities for Read Across Texas officially begin in March, but participating organizations may conduct programs any time throughout the spring and summer. Additionally, in February, organizations can access an online step-by-step facilitator toolkit that includes materials such as a how-to guide, additional recommended titles, digital resources and links to empathy-specific discussion questions.

Read Across Texas 2023 Library Grants

Texas libraries are eligible to apply for grants to receive a bundle of 10 copies of one of the four chosen titles. The amount of “book bundle grants” available depends on funding, and applicants will be evaluated and awarded as fundraising progresses. Libraries are encouraged to apply for grants and hold programming space on their spring calendars.

Apply for Library Grants Here

These grants are made available through a generous distribution partnership with BookPeople. The BookPeople website will include a link for donations to go directly to Read Across Texas for the entire month of February. In addition, on a day in February to be determined, 10% of all in-person and online sales will go toward book grants.

“BookPeople is excited for the opportunity to partner with the Texas Center for the Book on this amazing program that puts free books into the hands of Texans for important conversations,” said Charley Rejsek, BookPeople CEO. “The 2023 theme of empathy could not have come at a more timely moment. We are happy to be able to support our community bound by books in this partnership, with hope to grow it in the years to come.”