diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index ec42aca9e8..bcae2fefde 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ edition = "2018"
 
 [features]
 default = ["headless", "wgpu", "winit"]
-headless = ["asset", "core", "derive", "diagnostic", "gltf", "input", "pbr", "render", "serialization", "transform", "ui", "window"]
+headless = ["asset", "core", "derive", "diagnostic", "gltf", "input", "pbr", "render", "serialization", "text", "transform", "ui", "window"]
 asset = ["bevy_asset"]
 core = ["bevy_core"]
 derive = ["bevy_derive"]
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ input = ["bevy_input"]
 pbr = ["bevy_pbr"]
 render = ["bevy_render"]
 serialization = ["bevy_serialization"]
+text = ["bevy_text"]
 transform = ["bevy_transform"]
 ui = ["bevy_ui"]
 window = ["bevy_window"]
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ bevy_pbr = { path = "crates/bevy_pbr", optional = true }
 bevy_render = { path = "crates/bevy_render", optional = true }
 bevy_serialization = { path = "crates/bevy_serialization", optional = true }
 bevy_transform = { path = "crates/bevy_transform", optional = true }
+bevy_text = { path = "crates/bevy_text", optional = true }
 bevy_ui = { path = "crates/bevy_ui", optional = true }
 bevy_window = { path = "crates/bevy_window", optional = true }
 bevy_wgpu = { path = "crates/bevy_wgpu", optional = true }
@@ -149,6 +151,10 @@ path = "examples/shader/shader_custom_material.rs"
 name = "shader_defs"
 path = "examples/shader/shader_defs.rs"
 
+[[example]]
+name = "text"
+path = "examples/ui/text.rs"
+
 [[example]]
 name = "ui"
 path = "examples/ui/ui.rs"
diff --git a/assets/fonts/FiraMono-Medium.ttf b/assets/fonts/FiraMono-Medium.ttf
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..1e95ced4c4
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/fonts/FiraMono-Medium.ttf differ
diff --git a/assets/fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf b/assets/fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..95e1660240
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf differ
diff --git a/crates/bevy_asset/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_asset/src/lib.rs
index 32a68a3d27..8d59e93442 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_asset/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_asset/src/lib.rs
@@ -4,10 +4,6 @@ pub use handle::*;
 use bevy_core::bytes::GetBytes;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 
-pub trait Asset<D> {
-    fn load(descriptor: D) -> Self;
-}
-
 pub struct AssetStorage<T> {
     assets: HashMap<HandleId, T>,
     names: HashMap<String, Handle<T>>,
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/texture/texture.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/texture/texture.rs
index 8e9234271c..182cbee0f7 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/texture/texture.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/texture/texture.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use crate::shader::ShaderDefSuffixProvider;
-use bevy_asset::{Asset, Handle};
+use bevy_asset::Handle;
 use std::fs::File;
 
 pub const TEXTURE_ASSET_INDEX: usize = 0;
@@ -19,10 +19,8 @@ impl Texture {
     pub fn aspect(&self) -> f32 {
         self.height as f32 / self.width as f32
     }
-}
 
-impl Asset<TextureType> for Texture {
-    fn load(descriptor: TextureType) -> Self {
+    pub fn load(descriptor: TextureType) -> Self {
         let (data, width, height) = match descriptor {
             TextureType::Data(data, width, height) => (data.clone(), width, height),
             TextureType::Png(path) => {
diff --git a/crates/bevy_text/Cargo.toml b/crates/bevy_text/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..48bf3534b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/bevy_text/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+[package]
+name = "bevy_text"
+version = "0.1.0"
+authors = ["Carter Anderson <mcanders1@gmail.com>"]
+edition = "2018"
+
+# See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
+
+[dependencies]
+bevy_render = { path = "../bevy_render" }
+skribo = "0.1.0"
+font-kit = "0.6"
+pathfinder_geometry = "0.5"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/crates/bevy_text/src/font.rs b/crates/bevy_text/src/font.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4b8cd968b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/bevy_text/src/font.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+use crate::render::render_text;
+use bevy_render::{texture::Texture, Color};
+use font_kit::{error::FontLoadingError, metrics::Metrics};
+use skribo::{FontCollection, FontFamily};
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+pub struct Font {
+    pub collection: FontCollection,
+    pub metrics: Metrics,
+}
+
+impl Font {
+    pub fn try_from_bytes(font_data: Vec<u8>) -> Result<Self, FontLoadingError> {
+        let font = font_kit::font::Font::from_bytes(Arc::new(font_data), 0)?;
+        let metrics = font.metrics();
+        let mut collection = FontCollection::new();
+        collection.add_family(FontFamily::new_from_font(font));
+        Ok(Font {
+            collection,
+            metrics,
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn render_text(&self, text: &str, color: Color, width: usize, height: usize) -> Texture {
+        render_text(self, text, color, width, height)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/bevy_text/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_text/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6b305a4028
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/bevy_text/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+mod render;
+mod font;
+
+pub use font::*;
diff --git a/crates/bevy_text/src/render.rs b/crates/bevy_text/src/render.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1859492354
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/bevy_text/src/render.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+use crate::Font;
+use bevy_render::{
+    texture::{Texture, TextureType},
+    Color,
+};
+use font_kit::{
+    canvas::{Canvas, Format, RasterizationOptions},
+    hinting::HintingOptions,
+};
+use pathfinder_geometry::transform2d::Transform2F;
+use skribo::{LayoutSession, TextStyle};
+use std::ops::Range;
+
+struct TextSurface {
+    width: usize,
+    height: usize,
+    pixels: Vec<u8>,
+}
+
+fn composite(a: u8, b: u8) -> u8 {
+    let y = ((255 - a) as u16) * ((255 - b) as u16);
+    let y = (y + (y >> 8) + 0x80) >> 8; // fast approx to round(y / 255)
+    255 - (y as u8)
+}
+
+impl TextSurface {
+    fn new(width: usize, height: usize) -> TextSurface {
+        let pixels = vec![0; width * height];
+        TextSurface {
+            width,
+            height,
+            pixels,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn paint_from_canvas(&mut self, canvas: &Canvas, x: i32, y: i32) {
+        let (cw, ch) = (canvas.size.x(), canvas.size.y());
+        let (w, h) = (self.width as i32, self.height as i32);
+        let y = y - ch;
+        let xmin = 0.max(-x);
+        let xmax = cw.min(w - x);
+        let ymin = 0.max(-y);
+        let ymax = ch.min(h - y);
+        for yy in ymin..(ymax.max(ymin)) {
+            for xx in xmin..(xmax.max(xmin)) {
+                let pix = canvas.pixels[(cw * yy + xx) as usize];
+                let dst_ix = ((y + yy) * w + x + xx) as usize;
+                self.pixels[dst_ix] = composite(self.pixels[dst_ix], pix);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn paint_layout_session<S: AsRef<str>>(
+        &mut self,
+        layout: &mut LayoutSession<S>,
+        x: i32,
+        y: i32,
+        size: f32,
+        range: Range<usize>,
+    ) {
+        for run in layout.iter_substr(range) {
+            let font = run.font();
+            for glyph in run.glyphs() {
+                let glyph_id = glyph.glyph_id;
+                let glyph_x = (glyph.offset.x() as i32) + x;
+                let glyph_y = (glyph.offset.y() as i32) + y;
+                let bounds = font
+                    .font
+                    .raster_bounds(
+                        glyph_id,
+                        size,
+                        Transform2F::default(),
+                        HintingOptions::None,
+                        RasterizationOptions::GrayscaleAa,
+                    )
+                    .unwrap();
+                if bounds.width() > 0 && bounds.height() > 0 {
+                    let origin_adj = bounds.origin().to_f32();
+                    let neg_origin = -origin_adj;
+                    let mut canvas = Canvas::new(bounds.size(), Format::A8);
+                    font.font
+                        .rasterize_glyph(
+                            &mut canvas,
+                            glyph_id,
+                            size,
+                            Transform2F::from_translation(neg_origin),
+                            HintingOptions::None,
+                            RasterizationOptions::GrayscaleAa,
+                        )
+                        .unwrap();
+                    self.paint_from_canvas(
+                        &canvas,
+                        glyph_x + bounds.origin_x(),
+                        glyph_y - bounds.origin_y(),
+                    );
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn render_text(font: &Font, text: &str, color: Color, width: usize, height: usize) -> Texture {
+    let mut surface = TextSurface::new(width, height);
+    let style = TextStyle {
+        size: height as f32,
+    };
+    let offset = style.size * (font.metrics.ascent - font.metrics.cap_height)
+        / font.metrics.units_per_em as f32;
+
+    let mut layout = LayoutSession::create(&text, &style, &font.collection);
+    surface.paint_layout_session(
+        &mut layout,
+        0,
+        style.size as i32 - offset as i32,
+        style.size,
+        0..text.len(),
+    );
+    let color_u8 = [
+        (color.r * 255.0) as u8,
+        (color.g * 255.0) as u8,
+        (color.b * 255.0) as u8,
+    ];
+
+    Texture::load(TextureType::Data(
+        surface
+            .pixels
+            .iter()
+            .map(|p| {
+                vec![
+                    color_u8[0],
+                    color_u8[1],
+                    color_u8[2],
+                    (color.a * *p as f32) as u8,
+                ]
+            })
+            .flatten()
+            .collect::<Vec<u8>>(),
+        surface.width,
+        surface.height,
+    ))
+}
diff --git a/examples/ui/text.rs b/examples/ui/text.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a8f57c2d2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/ui/text.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+use bevy::prelude::*;
+use std::{fs::File, io::Read};
+
+fn main() {
+    App::build()
+        .add_default_plugins()
+        .add_startup_system(setup)
+        .run();
+}
+
+fn setup(world: &mut World, resources: &mut Resources) {
+    let mut texture_storage = resources.get_mut::<AssetStorage<Texture>>().unwrap();
+    let font_path = concat!(
+        env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"),
+        "/assets/fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"
+    );
+    let mut font_file = File::open(&font_path).unwrap();
+    let mut buffer = Vec::new();
+    font_file.read_to_end(&mut buffer).unwrap();
+    let font = Font::try_from_bytes(buffer).unwrap();
+
+    let texture = font.render_text("Hello from Bevy!", Color::rgba(0.9, 0.9, 0.9, 1.0), 500, 60);
+    let half_width = texture.width as f32 / 2.0;
+    let half_height = texture.height as f32 / 2.0;
+    let texture_handle = texture_storage.add(texture);
+    let mut color_materials = resources.get_mut::<AssetStorage<ColorMaterial>>().unwrap();
+    world
+        .build()
+        // 2d camera
+        .add_entity(Camera2dEntity::default())
+        // texture
+        .add_entity(UiEntity {
+            node: Node::new(
+                math::vec2(0.0, 0.0),
+                Anchors::CENTER,
+                Margins::new(-half_width, half_width, -half_height, half_height),
+            ),
+            material: color_materials.add(ColorMaterial::texture(texture_handle)),
+            ..Default::default()
+        });
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 4b0fef87d7..fbd1bd7ea8 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ pub use bevy_input as input;
 pub use bevy_pbr as pbr;
 #[cfg(feature = "render")]
 pub use bevy_render as render;
+#[cfg(feature = "text")]
+pub use bevy_text as text;
 #[cfg(feature = "serialization")]
 pub use bevy_serialization as serialization;
 #[cfg(feature = "transform")]
diff --git a/src/prelude.rs b/src/prelude.rs
index 51d2387237..b3b4c8da4b 100644
--- a/src/prelude.rs
+++ b/src/prelude.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #[cfg(feature = "asset")]
-pub use crate::asset::{Asset, AssetStorage, Handle};
+pub use crate::asset::{AssetStorage, Handle};
 #[cfg(feature = "core")]
 pub use crate::core::{
     time::Time,
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ pub use crate::render::{
     texture::{Texture, TextureType},
     ActiveCamera, ActiveCamera2d, Camera, CameraType, Color, ColorSource, Renderable,
 };
+#[cfg(feature = "text")]
+pub use crate::text::Font;
 #[cfg(feature = "transform")]
 pub use crate::transform::prelude::*;
 #[cfg(feature = "ui")]