Written by Michelle Young
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska
After months of preparation and thoughtful renovation, the library at Tzu Chi Walnut Elementary School, located in Walnut, Southern California, reopened on April 8, 2025. The new space is bright and organized, with a cozy layout that enhances the learning environment and creates an inviting haven for young readers, much to the delight of students and parents alike.
The renovation was led by a devoted parent, her child, and a team of dedicated volunteers. From sorting and labeling books to reimagining the overall layout, every detail was approached with care and love, making the library a shining example of parent and child collaboration and shared commitment to education.
Expressing Gratitude to Those Who Helped Transform the Library
To celebrate the reopening of the library, Tzu Chi Walnut Elementary School invited parents to visit the campus. Teachers and staff from the Tzu Chi Education Foundation also performed songs and dances, adding a warm and joyful touch to the event.
During the opening ceremony, Principal Benjamin Tsao introduced parent Shangtian Chuang and her daughter, who played a central role in the renovation, and expressed gratitude for their selfless dedication.
The mother-daughter team took care of everything from organizing and sorting books to beautifying the space. Although the library is small in size, transforming it into a wonderland of books required patience, persistence, and a great deal of care. Chuang said she thought it was just a small project, not expecting to find out that every book needed to be categorized, labeled, and shelved according to reading level.
The entire process ultimately took two and a half months to complete. Yet seeing how happy the children are with the results made the experience deeply rewarding. “I hope it will help them grow by reading,” Chuang said.
“I felt that working on this project was very tedious and a lot of hard work. But I think it’s all worth it today,” her daughter added. “I wish that all the kids will have a fun time in here and they’ll be able to read the books they like.”
Providing a Homey Place to Learn
When parents and children stepped into the newly renovated library, they were greeted by a cheerful rainbow wall and neatly reorganized bookshelves. The atmosphere was warm and bright, with comfortable lounge chairs that invited children to relax and recharge through reading.
Even more impressive is the library’s predominantly bilingual collection, with books in both English and Chinese covering a wide range of subjects, from literature and science to the humanities. The selection supports readers of all ages, encouraging language development, cross-cultural understanding, and joyful knowledge exploration.
“We are very happy to have such a library,” Debbie Lee, CEO of Tzu Chi USA and Tzu Chi Education Foundation, said. “It’s a reading paradise created by teachers, parents, and children together, so that the children feel like they are at home when they walk in.”
We hope that the children will not only gain knowledge here but also feel the blessings and warmth of family.
Nurturing a Love for Reading
Students flocked to the library with excitement. Some lay on the floor mats and said loudly to their teachers, “I love this library!” Others were drawn to the playful details, like the cute mice on the wall, and couldn’t get enough of them.
Angela Monzon, one of the parents, said: “This is a library for children, it has a fun and childlike space, with a wide variety of books.”
Reading is not just about learning, it's about nourishing the soul.
Other parents were equally enthusiastic about the library’s transformation. One said, “When my child walked past the library on his way to and from school every day, he always looked forward to when he could finally go in. Now that the library is finally open, he’s super happy!”
Another parent shared, “The Chinese and English bilingual books here are helpful to my child’s bilingual learning. Our family talks about the new books in the library every day.”
Christina Devoss, a Tzu Chi Walnut Elementary School and Walnut Great Love Preschool parent, said: “Our family is grateful for the efforts of the teachers and volunteers in making this library so wonderful for the children.”
The changes in the library have been amazing and have given us a sense that reading is a blessing to enjoy.
The opening of the new library at Tzu Chi Walnut Elementary is more than just a space upgrade: It is a living expression of Tzu Chi’s philosophy of education. Through reading, children are invited to explore, develop language skills, expand cultural understanding, and strengthen the bond between home and school.
Tzu Chi Walnut Elementary School extends heartfelt thanks to all the parents and volunteers who poured their time, care, and love into the library. The school invites every teacher and student to cherish this special space, so that reading becomes the most anticipated part of each day, and the scent of books inspires a lifelong love of learning.
Tzu Chi USA’s Great Love Preschools and our Walnut Elementary School nurture both the mind and heart through holistic education grounded in humanistic values.
