October 2026

Introducing our Fall Student Interns

Meet Yesenia Perez, Health Literacy Intern

Yesenia Perez brings over 20 years of healthcare administration experience, including leading marketing teams in home health and vascular care.

She currently works at University Medical Center and runs the volunteer program. She also spent several years teaching kindergarten through fifth-grade Sunday School at Cielo Vista Church.

Now pursuing her Master of Public Health Administration degree at UTXHealth Houston’s El Paso campus, Yesenia joined Books Are GEMS to help develop our Health Literacy for Kids program, bringing together her experience in healthcare and teaching to empower children and families to learn together.

Meet Oscar Lira Loera, Health Literacy Intern

Oscar Lira Loera is a registered nurse in the trauma unit at University Medical Center and a physician trained in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

He earned his nursing degree in Texas and is now pursuing his Master of Public Health Administration degree at UTHealth TX Houston’s El Paso campus.

Oscar brings extensive healthcare experience and a love of volunteering to Books Are GEMS, where he is helping develop our Health Literacy for Kids program so children and parents can learn together and feel more confident about their health.

Dear Books Are Gems Families,

Again, A Heartfelt Thank You to Our El Paso Giving Days Donors!

Bring the family to Books Are GEMS today, Saturday, October 24, at 11:30 a.m. for a morning of stories, discovery, and fun!

We’ll read Sherlock Bones and the Missing Cheese and The Dinosaur in the Garden. Each family receives these books FREE to take home!

Our Health Literacy for Families program continues with “A Doctor’s Visit”—how to prepare and what questions to ask during your appointment.

Our student interns, Oscar Lira Loera and Yesenia Perez, both pursuing their Master of Public Health degrees at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health’s El Paso campus, will lead this helpful session.

Stay for FREE arts and crafts after Storytime! Bring your children, bring your questions, and enjoy learning together—because empowered families grow healthier, one page at a time!

Remember, Every child can take home FREE books!

Join us as we continue inspiring young readers, empowering families, and building a healthier, more literate community!

With appreciation,

Your Team at work,

Board of Directors

Emma Acosta, Executive Director

Susan "Susie" Patterson, Bookstore Manager

Your team at work:

Emma Acosta, Executive Director;

Susan Patterson, Bookstore Manager;

Soto, our University of Chicago summer intern

We are proud to work together every day for the children, teachers, families, and customers we serve throughout our region.

Remember,

We are open Mon, Wed, Fri

from Noon to 6 p.m.

Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Every child receives on new book and 10 gently used books of their choice!

Stop by & Have a Happy Weekend!

Visit us and Stay Warm & Read a Book!

The following books will be read on

Saturday

11:30 a.m.

Remember, the first 15 families

recieve the Books Free!

The Dinosaur in the Garden by Deb Pilutti

After waiting millions of years, a T Rex thinks a curious girl might just find the clues he left behind, making his story part of hers.

It’s been millions of years since this dinosaur has been so excited. There’s a girl—a curious girl—exploring the land right where he used to live!

Will she be the one to find the clues he left millions of years ago?

Could she be the one to bring his story back to life?!

Sherlock Bones and the Missing Cheese by Susan Stevens Crummel

What’s that smell in the Dell? It comes from a cheese, a great big cheese, a smelly, scrumptious cheese, if you please, made from the milk of a cantankerous cow—oh, wow! The one-horned, two-eared, three-legged Cowabunga!

But the Cowabunga cheese has gone missing, and Sherlock Bones is on the case! That brainy bloodhound must use all five of his senses to track down the thief.

My Doctor's Visit by Rose Harkness (Author), Patrick Corrigan (Illustrator)

What do you do at the doctor's office? My Doctor's Visit is the perfect way to introduce your little one to the world of doctor visits in a fun and engaging manner!

This charming interactive storybook takes children on a journey through a typical doctor’s appointment, easing any fears and answering common questions about what happens during a visit.

Click on the Image above or here to Donate, Thank You!

Every book opens a door.

Every child deserves a key.

Your gift helps us provide free books, Storytime, and creative learning to children and teachers in our community.

A small donation today can spark a lifetime love of reading.

Thank you for your generosity and support!

The Books Are Gems Team

Dear Sponsors,

Thank you for your incredible generosity and support throughout this year. Your contributions have been the cornerstone of our success, enabling us to provide free books, host engaging literacy programs, and empower our community.

You have helped us open new doors for countless children and families, creating a brighter future one book at a time. We are deeply grateful for your belief in our mission and for making such a profound impact.

With heartfelt thanks,

The Books Are Gems Team