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Special Storytime - Friday July 11 @ 4 p.m.
Wendy Reed, author & illustrator of ​"The Bedtime Story"
will read her new book & give the first 15 families the book Free! Join us and meet Wendy Reed!

Wendy Reed,
Author & Illustrator
El Paso Author!

​Keep Cool, Keep Reading — Free Books All Summer Long!

DONATE TODAY!
Your Donation will be used for the purchase of new children's books.  Our mission is to increase literacy rates in our community by placing a book in every child's hands!
Scan QR Code to Donate today!
Thank you for your Donation!

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Books Are Gems Launches “Legal Literacy Storytime” with Support from Texas Bar Foundation
El Paso, TX -- Books Are Gems is proud to announce the launch of its newest initiative, Legal Literacy Storytime: Inspiring Kids with Justice, Rights, & Responsibility, made possible through a generous $6,500 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation.
This innovative program introduces young readers to essential legal concepts—such as fairness, justice, and civic duty—through engaging Storytime sessions, bilingual books, and interactive educational materials. The project aligns with Books Are Gems’ mission to increase literacy rates in El Paso County by providing free books and educational experiences to children and families across our community.
#TexasBarFoundation

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Bookstore is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday- Noon to 6 pm
Saturdays 10 a.m. -1 pm

Stop by and pick up free books for all the kids!
​Pase por aquí y recoja libros gratis para todos los niños!

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 Saturday Story Time 
​Every Saturday 
​@ 11:30 a.m. 
Hora de cuentos todos los Sábados, a las 11:30 a. m. ¡

​Story time books will be given to the first 15 Families attending Story Time Saturdays
Se entregarán libros de cuentos a los primeros 15 familias que asistan a los sábados de cuentos.

Books will be read this Saturday ! Join Us!
 Libros se leerán este sábado! ¡Únase a nosotros!

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A Home Again- Colleen Rowan Kosinski, Valeria Docampo (Illustrator)
After the last brick is laid, a family moves into a brand-new house. As the family grows, the house delights in the sound of laughter echoing in its halls and the pitter-patter of little feet traversing its floors and realizes it is no longer just a house. It has become a home―their home. One day, the family packs up, and with tears in their eyes, they say goodbye. The house doesn’t know if it can ever be happy again until two men appear. It begins to feel a sliver of hope about this new family…perhaps it can become a home once more. Told from the perspective of a house, this story’s heartfelt text and beautiful illustrations convey a warmth of feeling as two families change and grow at different times within the same four walls.

Bitsy Bat, Team Star- Kaz Windness
Bitsy Bat is a star student and the only fantastic flier at Crittercrawl Elementary…until a new nonspeaking student named Enzo Owl arrives and outflies her during recess. Bitsy worries her friends won’t think she’s special anymore, so she’s determined to beat Enzo in the upcoming Critter Games and prove she’s the better flier.
But when her friend Mo needs help during the race, Bitsy must choose between winning and being a star teammate. And while she’s at it, she just might discover that making a new friend is more special than any trophy.
This sequel to Bitsy Bat, School Star is told from an autistic perspective and celebrates how our differences make each of us shine brightly on our own and as part of a team.​

Special Announcement - Books are Gems is a Microsoft Tech Hub

Microsoft has provided us with laptops that can be used by
Adults and high School students,

The laptops can be used to create, update and print your resume!

You can also use the laptops for online training via LinkedIn!

Stop by during Bookstore hours and ask to use a laptop,
there is no charge for this!

Remember, we are open M, W, F from noon to 6 pm.
​and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
 

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¡Ayúdanos a reducir los residuos! ¡Trae tu bolsa de reciclaje y llénala de libros!

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Cada niño puede seleccionar un nuevo libro para niños ¡y ocho (8) libros usados ​​en buen estado!
​ ​¡Son 9 libros gratis para todos los niños!
​¡Además, los padres pueden recoger libros para sus hijos! ​

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We Celebrated our 20th Birthday! Thank you Vemac for your Sponsorship!
Everyone Had a Great Time!
Celebramos nuestros veinte años ¡Cumpleaños! ¡Gracias Vemac por su patrocinio! ¡Todos se lo pasaron genial!

A Magician Performed Magic Tricks!
¡Un mago realizó trucos de magia!

Vivian Venegas Gonzalez read to the kids!
Vivian Venegas González lee a los niños!

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Your Donation Will Help Us Continue to Provide "Free" Books for Kids!
Thank you!
¡Su donación nos ayudará a continuar brindando libros "gratis" para niños! ¡Gracias!

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​We Thank You for Supporting Books are Gems Bookstore!
¡Le agradecemos su apoyo a la librería Books are Gems!

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Gratis para profesores
Libros gratis, 25 por semestre
Recursos gratuitos para profesores Libros de trabajo para estudiantes,
Gráficos, Pósters, Juegos & Más

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MEET OUR NEW BOARD MEMBER
​TOMAS PORRAS ACOSTA
Sharing his story about Books are Gems!

CONOCE A NUESTRO NUEVO MIEMBRO DE LA JUNTA ​ - TOMÁS PORRAS ACOSTA
Compartiendo su historia sobre ¡Los libros son gemas!

Click on our video below to learn more about Books are GEMS.

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How Books are GEMS began:
A Love Story

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Twenty (20) Years Later
Veinte (20) años después

Since its inception, Books are GEMS has provided over 1.5 MILLION BOOKS to children and educators. Thanks to ongoing support from the El Paso Community, Books are GEMS continues to expand its reach through various programs.

Desde sus inicios, Books are GEMS ha proporcionado más de 1,5 MILLONES DE LIBROS a niños y educadores. Gracias al apoyo continuo de la comunidad de El Paso, Books are GEMS continúa ampliando su alcance a través de varios programas.

Timeline

• January 2003 - Books are GEMS becomes a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and fundraising begins
• Distributions begin at Alamo, AOY, and Roosevelt in South El Paso
• Books begin flowing in and Gracie’s bedroom overflows
• Paula Madriles’s living and dining room fill up
• A friend’s garage overflows
• Paula Madriles and friends are forced to rent a storage unit, and then another
• June 2003: Books are GEMS moves into the Placita Santa Fe on Doniphan
• January 2006: Books are GEMS reaches its current location, 7744 North Loop, Suite B, located on the right side / back half of the PNC Bank building

​Línea de tiempo

• Enero de 2003: Books are GEMS se convierte en una organización sin fines de lucro 501(c)(3) y comienza la recaudación de fondos.
• Las distribuciones comienzan en Alamo, AOY y Roosevelt en el sur de El Paso.
• Los libros comienzan a fluir y el dormitorio de Gracie se desborda.
• El salón y el comedor de Paula Madriles se llenan
• El garaje de un amigo se desborda
• Paula Madriles y amigos se ven obligados a alquilar un trastero, y luego otro
• Junio de 2003: Books are GEMS se muda a la Placita Santa Fe en Doniphan
• Enero de 2006: Books are GEMS llega a su ubicación actual, 7744 North Loop, Suite B, ubicada en el lado derecho/mitad trasera del edificio PNC Bank.

Books are GEMS Programs
- Nine (9) Free Books a Month
- General Bookstore
- Free Materials for Educators
- Storytime Saturdays
- Major Distribution
- Rx to Read -for physicians

 Programas de GEMS
- Nueve (9)  libros gratis al mes
- Librería General
- Materiales gratuitos para educadores
- Sábados de cuentos
- Distribucion mayor
- Rx para leer - para doctores

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Our Location
Nuestra ubicación

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Books are GEMS

Phone:
(915) 845-5437

Address:
7744 North Loop, Suite B
El Paso, Texas 79915

Trouble finding us?

Books Are GEMS is located on the right side / back half
of the PNC Bank building

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DONATE

Scan the QR code or Click on the Image to Donate! Thank you!
¡Escanee el código QR o haga clic en la imagen para donar hoy! ¡Gracias!

Help place a book into the hands of a child.
Donate today to give the gift of reading!

Ayude a poner un libro en manos de un niño.
¡Dona hoy para regalar la lectura!

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