Rotary sparks love of reading

Sisters, Tumalo and Black Butte School first-graders received new books last Friday in a literacy event sponsored by Rotary Club of Sisters.

The gathering was held at Sisters Community Church which had a large enough room to accommodate the 110 students. The children were greeted by some of their favorite literary characters as they arrived. Mr. and Mrs. Berenstain Bear, Clifford the Big Red Dog and the Cat in the Hat were joined by the South Valley Bank dragon.

Sisters First Grade Book Project is modeled on a program that originated in Wyoming. John Jorgensen started a literacy project in Casper in 1999 as a way to honor his late wife, Sue. Books and children were her passion and she believed in an early start to literacy. The program, now called Wyoming Reads, is so successful in that state that the governor declares a statewide literacy day each year to coincide with the presentation of the books to the children.

Jorgensen, who was present for the Sisters event, started the festivities with an interactive story. The tale, about a good queen, a bad grinch, a kingdom full of books and book-loving first graders, involved the students all shouting, "Sniggldy-snead, I want to read!" as loudly as they could as the story unfolded. Some of the kids were heard repeating the phrase as they left the event.

The project begins in the winter when first-grade teachers, in collaboration with Rotarian Peg Bermel, choose six books to read to their students. The students then select a favorite to become their own. The books are purchased from Paulina Springs Books by Rotary and a name plate ensures each one is personalized. In addition, the children receive a small backpack filled with activity items donated by Deschutes Library System, South Valley Bank, US Bank, and the U.S. Forest Service.

For some students, this is the first book they've ever received. Others will add it to already existing libraries in their homes. All the students were excited to open their packs and take out the new books.