Book Days: A Local Literacy Program

STORY BY Rebecca Darling

Last summer, we discovered an adorable YouTube channel that was based right here in Round Rock. Book Days, the brainchild of Kassi Kincaid, brings books to life in a unique way. Kincaid took a classroom project and turned it into a full-on virtual experience with favorite children’s stories.

Book Days is a literacy program all about bringing books to life to encourage a love of reading in kids. Kincaid is a full time preschool administrator and has a passion for children’s literacy. Within her preschool, she began to pair children’s books with a simple activity for the kids to do in the classroom.

Over time, this idea grew into a school wide event: reading the book with a theatrical performance as well as a variety of themed activities. But when COVID hit in spring 2020, Book Days didn’t stop! Kincaid pivoted the program to a virtual platform, a YouTube channel, pairing children’s books with real world adventures.

The first episode of Book Days featured Baker’s Dozen by Dan Andreasen and a behind the scenes look at Paige’s Bakehouse, in downtown Round Rock. From there, Kincaid has created two episodes a month, started with fun places around Round Rock and expanding into Austin. Most recently, she has filmed in Dallas, San Antonio, South Padre Island, Galveston, as well as other smaller Texas towns.

It’s hard to believe, but most of the production of the episodes involve an iPhone and a few lapel mics. Kincaid does most of the editing herself. This is truly a passion project of hers, one that she would like to expand and grow.

This summer, Book Days will be encouraging Round Rock residents to participate in

ABOVE: Touring the kitchen of Paige’s Bakehouse with owner, Paige Morgan Perry.

ABOVE: On the bee farm with Konrad Bouffard, owner of Round Rock Honey Company LEFT: Making new friends with beluga whales in Beluga Bay at Sea World San Antonio. a “Hometown Book Trail” where you can visit various locations in Round Rock that correspond with a book. Follow Books Days on Instagram at @officialbooksdays to learn more.

While she encourages everyone to watch her videos with their children, if you are so inclined, they are starting a Patron program to help with some of the costs that go into making the episodes.

“This program, the classroom version and the YouTube channel, is my pride and joy! It is important to me because it not only encourages a love of reading in children, it encourages a love of learning. If we can inspire a love of learning in children, they will go on to do great things, not only in their academic years, but in their lives.” Kincaid says.

And there is no end in sight for the Book Days YouTube channel as there are endless children’s books and endless adventures to go with them.

If you are interested in becoming a Patron, with all access to episodes and activities associated with Book Days, you can learn more at https://www.bookdays.org