José Martínez Helps Celebrate Literacy at Reading School District Family Event

READING, Pa. — Books, creativity and community came together this week as families gathered at Tenth & Green Elementary School for a Family Literacy Event hosted by the Reading School District.

The event brought together educators, students, families and local community members for an afternoon focused on literacy, storytelling and helping young people stay connected to reading and learning as summer approaches.

Emmy Award-winning journalist, storyteller and author José Martínez participated in the event, sharing his books, Your English Is Great, But… and Your English Is Great, But…: A Bilingual Coloring & Activity Book for Kids.

Families explored bilingual literacy activities, storytelling resources and interactive coloring pages designed to celebrate language, creativity and identity.

Children participating in the event had the opportunity to color pages from Martínez’s bilingual activity book while families connected with educational resources intended to encourage literacy development outside the classroom.

The event also highlighted the importance of collaboration and community partnerships in expanding literacy opportunities for young people.

Fellow local author Jennifer Adames also participated in the event, connecting with students and families while helping support a shared goal of bringing more books, creativity and storytelling opportunities directly into the community.

“Community literacy grows stronger when more people get involved,” Martínez said. “Books create confidence. They create belonging. And they remind young people that their stories matter.”

Throughout the afternoon, families visited literacy stations, explored books and participated in activities centered around storytelling and creativity.

For Martínez, whose work through journalism and publishing often focuses on language, identity and community storytelling, events like these reflect a broader mission of helping young people discover the power of their voices.

“Literacy is bigger than reading,” Martínez said. “It’s confidence. It’s identity. And it’s helping young people discover the value of their own stories.”

The Family Literacy Event is part of ongoing efforts to encourage reading engagement and strengthen connections between schools, families and community resources.