Round Rock ISD Literacy Effort Is All The Buzz

AUSTIN, TX — It's been said that reading is fundamental, but it can also be lots of fun. With that spirit in mind, Round Rock ISD librarians offer a video book series dubbed Book Buzz.

Hosted by Round Rock ISD elementary librarians Kristen Fournier (Forest North Elementary School) and Jamie Wright (Joe Lee Johnson STEAM Academy), the Book Buzz offering showcases the literacy enthusiasts' sharing their earnest appreciation for the literary and visual art of children’s books they love for new, emerging independent, and independent readers.

The duo’s enthusiasm is palpable as they discuss their favorite, award-winning fiction and nonfiction picture and chapter books for students from Pre-K through grade 6, with relatable stories and characters accessible to young readers.

Watch Book Buzz episodes on YouTube or the Round Rock ISD website

Along the way, both librarians pepper their readings with tips and ideas to grow reading literacy with every book they share. Viewers learn about the book’s authors while being introduced to stories exploring friendship, teamwork and collaboration along with problem-solving, dealing with change, self-expression, and new cultures — all in various family situations.

“It’s such a nice thing to shut off all the devices and to spend time together in stories,” Wright said in a prepared statement. “It’s amazing what kinds of conversations can come up at other times, and you can compare and say ‘hey, that reminds me of when this character was doing this,’ and it brings people together because that’s the magic of stories.”

Not content with mere reading and dispensing helpful literacy tips, the loquacious librarians wrote and recorded a jazzy Book Buzz jingle to spread the word further while raving about their fan art. Yes, they get fan art. One hears the warbling bibliophiles at the beginning of each video.

Subscribe to Book Buzz on YouTube

Book discussion run the gamut of genres — historical fiction, action-adventure, sports, folktales, fairy tales, humor, graphic novels, thrillers and more.

Here are some episodes for your reading and entertainment pleasure, kids:

• Book Buzz: Episode 1 – Dandy, A Diamond in the Desert, Gaston, I Walk with Vanessa, Juana & Lucas, and Saturday.
• Book Buzz: Episode 2 – Festival of Colors, Halfway to Perfect, Hector the Collector, Shaking Things Up, Song for a Whale, The Bridge Home.
• Book Buzz: Episode 3 – Inside Out & Back Again, Rabbit & Robot and Ribbit, Sahara Special, Sulive, The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do, Zoey and Sassafras.
• Book Buzz: Episode 4 – Blended, BunBun & BonBon, Donut the Destroyer, Don’t Worry BEE Happy, Layla and the Bots Happy Paws, Mr. Wolf’s Class, Owly, Stepping Stones, The Baby-sitters Little Sister, The One and Only Ivan, Twins.
• Book Buzz Episode 5 – Among the Hidden, Christian the Hugging Lion, Go Big or Go Home, Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match, The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh, The Templeton Twins Have an Idea.
• Book Buzz Episode 6 – Armadilly Chili, Biblioburro, Ellray Jakes Walks the Plank, Federico and the Wolf, Goat on a Boat, Grump, Masterpiece, Prince & Knight, The Cool Bean.

All these books and more are available at Round Rock ISD elementary school libraries. Students and families can reserve books online, request librarians to choose books for them, check out eBooks or have them delivered curbside and to the classroom.

“I hope you find something wonderful to read today and every day,” Wright said.