by Denise Gary
Photographs © Denise Gary
Kids Need to Read had the pleasure of partnering throughout the 2013–2014 school year with the talented Arizona BookPALs, who read character-building books to the kindergarten through fourth grade students of Children First Academy in Tempe, Arizona.
Books for the readers were provided by Kids Need to Read as part of the organization’s Kids-N-Peace anti-bullying literacy program.
The children were always excited to see their BookPALs walk into the classroom each month and eagerly gathered around to listen to inspiring stories.
You know a child is absorbed when he is compelled to reach out and put his hands on the book being read!
Some BookPALs even gave books and other gifts to the children, some provided by the BookPALs themselves and some supplied by Kids Need to Read.
There were also magic tricks, book trivia contests, and games to engage the children, all courtesy of the BookPALs!
Reading aloud is vital to the development of literacy skills in young children, so Kids Need to Read is grateful to work together with Arizona BookPALs to bring story time to the Kids-N-Peace program.
We know that books can be used as incredibly effective tools to help lead children to enrich their own lives, to envision a vibrant future, and to accomplish their goals.
Many thanks to Arizona BookPALs Director Ellen Dean, as well as readers (in order pictured in blog) Michael Jung, Sylvia Chimbo, Toni Jourdan, Stephanie Cohen, Eric Ashmont, and Roberta Livesay (unpictured) for making their talent and enthusiasm available to Kids Need to Read and the students of Children First Academy—Tempe! Thanks also to school counselor Todd Kemmerer for allowing Kids Need to Read to play a small role in his efforts to assist the students of this unique school.
Photo Gallery: Kids-N-Peace: Arizona BookPALs Read for Peace
Kids-N-Peace Program Information
Kids-N-Peace Funding Partners
American Woodmark Foundation
East Quogue Elementary School Students
Elephants Remember
Employees Community Fund of Boeing Arizona
Fry’s Fund
John F. Long Foundation
Mesa Host Lions Club
Sundt Foundation
Target
Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund
