Royal Prairie Elementary – the newest school for fast-growth school district Royal ISD – opened in August 2025, welcoming 400 students to its Sunterra campus at 7560 Bartlett Road in Katy.

But there was a concern at the beautiful new campus – the bookshelves in the new airy library space were mostly empty.

Truly, it was enough to break your heart into a million little pieces.

But the district reached out for community support to help fill those shelves.

“The RPES library is currently seeking book donations for grades PK–5, and we’d love to partner with you on a book drive to help our youngest Falcons develop a lifelong love of reading,” said a district spokesperson in an October 17 email to the Katy Times.

After learning of the situation, Katy Area Retired Educators (KARE) President Cheryl Glasser immediately got to work.

The Royal Prairie Elementary Library only had 400 books, Glasser told the Katy Times. The normal ratio for “books to students” is about 15 to 1, she said. She launched a book drive to coincide with the organization’s 25th anniversary celebration, asking members to bring books to the meeting on November 12.

The KARE team – in addition to books donated by members at the meeting – purchased additional volumes, bringing in an impressive total of 965 books, which were delivered to the campus on November 14.

Others in the community stepped up to help as well.

Memorial Hermann Katy held a book drive and collected approximately 250 books. Susan Folk and the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Angelina Peyton Chapter donated 697 books, several boxes of school supplies and a trumpet.

For those who still wish to help, it’s not too late.

Books – which can be either new or gently used -- should be appropriate for PK-5th grade learners. Books can be dropped off at Royal Prairie Elementary at 7560 Bartlett Road, Katy, in the Sunterra neighborhood. For more information, please contact Doreen Martinez, principal, or Carrie Lentz, assistant principal, at 346-922-4000.