There’s nothing quite like the excitement of a new book, and students at HISD’s Browning Elementary School on Thursday got to experience that thrill thanks to the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation.  

Every student at Browning received six new books as part of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation’s My Home Library program, which aims to build home libraries for economically disadvantaged children.  

“To see the children finally receive the books that they have chosen is so heartwarming,” said Julie Baker Finck, President of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. “They are so excited to start reading, and that is what it is all about – helping empower children to have a choice in what they read and helping them to have the tools and resources to read more often.” 

Browning is one of 11 HISD schools benefiting from the My Home Library Program in the month of April. Using a custom-designed web-based tool, My Home Library enables children to create a wish list of books they want to read.  

Community members can sponsor a specific child’s home library of six new books by donating as little as $30. At Browning, Marathon Oil Corporation is the corporate partner, and funding raised through their annual giving campaign helped pay for the books the students received.  

To learn more about the My Home Library Program, visit www.myhomelibraryhouston.org.