ROGERS — “Can I read my book?”
How often do you hear that question?
I heard it July 19 while volunteering at Pages & Pictures Literacy Fair held in conjunction with the Rogers Activity Center’s Summer Day Camp. The literacy fair is a project of Altrusa International of Rogers, to which I belong.
The first group of soon-to-be first-graders were seated waiting their turn to move to a crafts station when the question was asked. I looked down into a grinning face and replied, “You bet!” The first brave questioner was mimicked by several more young ’uns, and they all pulled one of the two free books they received from their tote bags, showing me what they had chosen.
The fact the kids were excited to get books does the heart of this old book lover good. About 200 kids multiplied by two books each, that’s some 400 books in the hands of kids, hopefully cultivating a love of reading in them. Altrusa bought half the books and the other half were provided by our longtime partner, Friendly Bookstore.
We had celebrity readers, hoping that, too, would encourage reading. Fire Chief Tom Jenkins made his second appearance at Pages & Pictures. Anyone who has a big red truck is popular with the younger kids. Tom was so popular, in a bit of role reversal, I had to rescue him, and still the kids swarmed him as he waded off stage.
We were lucky the Northwest Arkansas Naturals thought the idea of reading to kids was a good one. They sent two fan faves, Michael Liberto and Alex McClure, to read. They were a hit with the older kids, and said if they are here next year, they want to be a part of Pages & Pictures again. Of course, we hope they have moved on to the show, and are hitting the ball hard for the Kansas City Royals, but if not, we certainly will welcome them back.
When I was growing up, Mom took my sister and me to the library every week. It was really what inspired my love of reading. Apparently it didn’t work as well on the sister-person. I think she has had a John Grisham book of mine since it came out two years ago. How many has he published since then? I asked her if she had read it. The answer was no.
When her kids were younger, I would agitate her to take them to the library. She didn’t have time. Well, during the week that could be true, but the library in Conway surely had/has Saturday hours.
So I compensated, buying the kids books for every gift-giving occasion, and sometimes just because. It may have worked with Chase. He even asked Santa for a Kindle e-reader.
Now, I am turning my efforts to my great-niece, Morgan. I am determined that this mighty 2-year-old will love books and reading. I fear the pressures of television and whatever video games develop as she does will distract her, but there is hope. I saw it at Pages & Pictures.
There is no way to know how many of these kids actually have a book they can call their own for the very first time. Undoubtedly, it is more than a few. That may surprise a lot of you, but some of the kids are from poor families who can’t afford books. Others are from families who simply don’t value books and reading. Having a hugemongous screen TV is far more important than having a library card or spending a few dollars on gently used books at Friendly Bookstore.
But the fact that those kids were so darned happy choosing a book, then looking through it, tells me Altrusa is doing important work through its literacy program.
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I wrote a column a couple of years ago about my intense dislike of e-readers. In the interest of full disclosure, I admit I now have one. I couldn’t afford the iPad I wanted, so I asked Santa Claus for a Kindle Fire, which I thought would be helpful post-surgery. I could lay in bed, if necessary, check email, etc., and read on it, too.
These e-readers are dangerous for me — I can buy book after book without thinking twice. But it is no replacement for a good old-fashioned book book, like the one on my desk right now.
Whatever delivery method you choose, I encourage you to read!
Leeanna Walker is editor of the Rogers Morning News. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NWALeeanna.