By Denise Gary
Photographs © Robert Gary
Friends of the Phoenix Public Library invited Kids Need to Read to give books and Highlights magazines to children attending their event, Love to Read AZ!
This is the third year the Friends group and Bookmans have brought the event to the Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix, Arizona.
We were stationed at the library entrance and gave away hundreds of books and magazines to children and adolescents as they walked in.
Book packs were filled with books, Highlights magazines, and bookmarks provided by Kids Need to Read.
The tables were constantly surrounded by kids picking up their packs.
We were greeted with smile after smile as we handed out the book packs.
Some kids started reading their books immediately.
Their joy was infectious!
Kids were excited to receive “Love Your Library” stickers from the Phoenix Library Friends, too.
Although bags were color coded by age, some children asked for specific colors.
We complied with the color swaps most of the time, because who can resist someone like this little girl sweetly asking for a green bag to go with her pink jacket?
Sometimes, getting a book pack on called for a little help.
In addition to the free book giveaway, the celebration featured Story Time with Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and his family, musical guest Chuck Cheesman, a production by the Great Arizona Puppet Theater, raffles, literacy information tables, crafts, and meet & greets with Curious George, Bookbreath, BookMan, and Maya & Miguel.
Like the Pied Piper of Hamlin, Chuck Cheesman led the children to the auditorium for story time.
There was an extraordinary amount of Hello Kitty attire!
This boy liked my KNTR “Take Me to Your Reader” alien t-shirt.
Some children had their faces painted.
The Friends were raffling off a color Nook and an Xbox 360 with Kinect.
After going to at least three activities or info tables, kids dropped off their stamped passports in the Friends raffle drop.
This girl was the lucky winner of the Xbox 360!
What a great time we had giving away books and magazines, simply for the joy of it all! Well, okay, it was to encourage families to read, but it truly was a joyful moment in time for me. We “Love to Read” and it is so wonderful to share that love with children!
We thank Friends of the Phoenix Public Library and Bookmans Entertainment Exchange for giving Kids Need to Read the opportunity to participate in their exciting event, as well as the wonderful Friends volunteers who helped us. Thanks always to Highlights for Children for continuing to support our organization, as well as Actionopolis Books, and authors Frank Beddor and Jeanne McNaney. We share the love of reading with you all!
More Incredibly Adorable Photos (There were so many!): “Love to Read A–Z” Photo Gallery
