Casita Azul Libros

Casita Azul Libros began as a single bookshelf in our 200-square-foot bookstore. Even in that tiny space, we knew Spanish-language books deserved more than a shelf. In Waxahachie ISD, more than 40% of students are Hispanic, and more than 10% are classified as Emergent Bilingual or English Learners. Across the country, Hispanic adults continue to experience significant disparities in English literacy; in 2023, 45% of Hispanic adults ages 16–65 performed at Level 1 or below on the federal PIAAC literacy assessment. But behind those numbers are families, languages, and experiences that are often missing from the conversation. As someone who grew up ESL in a Title I school on the Texas border, I know what it feels like to grow up without books at home, without parents who can easily help with reading because they don't speak the language, and without seeing your own culture and experiences reflected on the pages. Casita Azul Libros was created to help change that. We want children to see themselves in the stories they read, and we want parents and children to be able to share those stories together—whether in English, Spanish, or both. We believe literacy isn't just about whether a child can read; it's also about whether a child has access to books, whether their family can participate, whether they feel represented, and whether reading feels like something that belongs to them. We are committed to making a difference, one story at a time.