reading

My Brave Friend is a special book for young children. It focuses on Noah, a first grader, who notices his best friend Emma did not come back to school after winter break. His teacher explains Emma is in the hospital and she has cancer. The book uses calm, simple language that is easy for children to understand. It explains what it is like to be a patient in a children’s hospital and also that cancer is not contagious like some other illnesses.

Read Victoria's book review.

Ever find your child or even yourself struggling to achieve perfection? While this can feel problematic, readers are introduced to Petunia, a young girl who takes pride in doing everything perfectly. Throughout her journey, we can start to feel normalized that not everyone or everything can be perfect.

Read Jessica's book review. 

Calling all book-loving families, storytime superstars, and parents of tiny page‑turners!

Does your kid devour books like snacks, or melt into your lap the moment you say, “Once upon a time…”?

We’re swimming in amazing children’s book submissions — a wonderful problem to have — but there are simply too many for us to review on our own. And saying “no” to authors who pour their hearts into these stories? It hurts our book‑loving souls.

So… we had an idea. A fun one. A community-powered, story-celebrating, book‑sharing idea - and a chance for you and your littles to receive free children’s books in exchange for writing honest reviews.

Book reviews are essential for authors—especially indie authors who rely on visibility, word of mouth, and authentic reader feedback. As a community of readers, parents, and book lovers, we love supporting fellow writers and helping great books find their audience.

We also believe deeply in fostering a love of reading in children and making books accessible to families in our community. This program supports authors while also putting more stories into the hands of young readers.

This Read & Share Book Review Program connects children’s book authors with real readers and provides honest reviews that are shared on the Live Grow Play Austin blog, newsletter, and Facebook page, with many reviewers also choosing to post their honest review on Amazon.

If you’ve got a young bookworm in the house—or just want to spark a love of reading—The Kids Bookshop in Leander is a must-visit. This locally owned treasure is all about making books fun, affordable, and accessible for kids of all ages.

After four years of running everything straight out of her garage, owner Ann Kimura has transformed The Kids Bookshop into a beautiful, cozy storefront where families can browse shelves of gently used children’s books instead of digging through boxes. What makes The Kids Bookshop special? Read on for details.

 

If you’ve ever wished your favorite indie bookstore could just show up at your local market, brewery, or boutique event—wish granted. Meet Wandering Pages, the mobile bookstore cruising through the Texas Hill Country and turning ordinary weekends into literary treasure hunts.

Discover more about Wandering Pages and see where this charming mobile bookstore will pop up next.

Summer is a time for exploration, creativity, and new experiences—and what better way to embark on an adventure than through books? Whether kids are relaxing by the pool, curled up in a hammock, or on a road trip, reading keeps their minds engaged and their imaginations soaring. Plus, with so many summer reading programs offering exciting rewards, kids can stay motivated while having fun!

Children’s books are powerful tools for shaping young minds, fostering empathy, and promoting diverse perspectives. Whether you’re a parent building a home library or an educator cultivating inclusivity in the classroom, a thoughtfully curated selection of books can make a lasting impact.

This guide showcases 150 incredible books by 100 authors, highlighting stories that celebrate culture, identity, and belonging.

The City of Bee Cave and the Bee Cave Public Library will host their fourth annual free Books and Bees Festival on April 12 at the Bee Cave Galleria.

As a hub of literacy for children and adults, our Bee Cave Public Library hosts programs year round that serve hundreds of families in the area and beyond. As a Bee City USA affiliate, the City of Bee Cave is dedicated to educating the public and helping conserve this most important insect. Our one-of-a-kind Books & Bees Festival helps accomplish our two missions - share fantastic literature with kids and adults alike, featuring high-profile, bestselling authors – and teach our residents and their kiddos more about bees! We have so many fun activities, entertainment and readings in store, you will not want to miss this FREE event! 

Nestled in the heart of Austin's Brentwood neighborhood, Birdhouse Books and Gifts is a vibrant independent bookstore that opened its doors in September of this year. The store boasts a playful kids' corner brimming with books for readers of all ages and offers author readings, book discussions, and children's story times.

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