Written by Denise Gary
Photographs © Denise Gary
Sometimes life delivers the most unexpected pleasures. When we agreed to run a booth at ASU Preparatory Academy’s Fall Festival, of course, our thought was to do what we do – give books to kids. It was suggested that the kids sign reading pledges for the books and we concurred. So, we thought we would be the “reading” booth somewhere in the midst of all the “fun” booths and maybe some of the kids would be interested.
HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! Silly woman, I! Our booth was placed front and center, and we were promptly inundated by hordes of excited kids of all ages filling out reading pledges and picking out books!
First, the kids had to sign a pledge pumpkin to read 30 minutes per day, five days per week.
Then, they handed in the pledge pumpkin.
The reward was a beautiful new book!
ASU Preparatory Academy Professor in Residence Josephine Marsh helped to hang pledge pumpkins, as they were coming in fast and furious!
A girl asked, “Just one book?” (Love the sunglasses and check out the sea of kids around her!)
Brothers and sisters helped each other out.
For some, selecting books was serious business.
Some books are as big as children!
Our booth was temporarily deserted when the fire department turned on the water spray.
But soon the families returned to the “book booth.”
More pledges were signed.
More books were given away.
More smiles were shared!
By the end of the day, the KNTR booth was covered in pumpkin pledges.
My favorite moment was when a little boy ran off squealing with his book held high up in the air! He really wanted to show it to someone very badly! So cute!
We are so grateful to ASU Preparatory Academy, the ninth grade volunteers who assisted in our booth, and to our generous book donors, author Jeanne McNaney, Actionopolis, and Barnes & Noble Chandler. YOU are the reason we were able to make so many kids happy!
Photo Gallery: ASU Preparatory Academy: Fall Festival
Related Blog: KNTR and ASU Youth Literacy Initiative Kickoff was “Out of this World”
