There were plenty of smiles at Morris P-8 School when the Mayor’s Book Club handed out new books to the pre-k and kindergarten children.
Superintendent Dr. Matt Akin, generous sponsors, and library representatives joined us as we read “Green Eggs and Ham” to the students before giving each child three books to take home.
Following the reading, sponsors helped hand out the books, prompting a number of impromptu fist bumps and high fives.
Each year, the Mayor’s Book Club raises funds to purchase books for our earliest readers in the City’s Title 1 schools. Now approaching our 10th year, we’ve distributed more than 90,000 books to elementary age students in an effort to promote literacy and a joy of learning.
This month, about 1,220 pre-k and kindergarten students will receive the following books: Groovy Joe: Ice Cream & Dinosaurs, National Geographic: Swing Sloth, and Pete the Cat: Scuba-Cat.
We know it is important to get books in the hands of children at an early age, but it is equally important to instill a love of reading. This is where parents, grandparents, friends and mentors come in. Make time to read with and read to a child. It establishes a foundation critical for future learning.
The book distribution is made possible each year through the generosity of private donations. Sponsors for 2018 include Boeing, Bradley, Corporate Office Properties Trust, Woody Anderson Ford, Cadence Bank, SES, Torch Technologies, Garver, and RCP Companies.
Another important partner with the Mayor’s Book Club is the Huntsville Public Library, which believes the book distribution comes at a perfect time for the children – the beginning of summer break.
The library offers free summer programs for children, teens and adults, helping to break the ‘summer slide’ by creating, fun opportunities to boost literacy skills and retain reading levels. I hope to encourage young readers to return to their local library to explore new worlds with the best tool they can own: a library card.
As always, I welcome your thoughts and comments at contact@huntsvilleal.gov or by calling 256-427-5000.