In 2022, our team launched a simple idea with a big dream: bring the joy of reading to children in a way they’d never forget. Inspired by the beloved book Waiting for the Biblioburro, we introduced Books & Burros — a program where a live mini donkey joins us to visit elementary schools across Sumner County.
Now in our fourth year, Books & Burros has become a tradition students, teachers, and families look forward to. Each fall, we load up our books (and our burro!) and travel from school to school, sharing stories that spark imagination and remind kids that reading can take them anywhere. The children’s faces light up when they see the donkey walk into their schoolyard, and the excitement carries into story time as we read together.
Beyond the laughter and curiosity the donkey brings, the heart of Books & Burros is about literacy, imagination, and connection. Our goal is to plant seeds of curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of reading — all while creating a memory that kids will treasure long after the last page is turned.
What started as a new idea in 2022 has grown into a joyful countywide event. We can’t wait to continue bringing Books & Burros to every elementary school in Sumner County year after year.
