By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
The Mesquite Reads program helped spread the word about the joy of reading to elementary school children and their parents on Saturday morning, April 16 in the ballroom at the Rising Star Resort.
In a partnership with the Sunrise Rotary Club, Eureka Community Initiative (ECI) Director Gerri Chasko organized a book give-away for student and parents of JL Bowler Elementary School, Virgin Valley Elementary School and Beaver Dam Elementary School.
There were even some superstars there. Children’s book authors, Roo Arledge and Betty Crofoot were on hand to talk about their books. To the children’s amusement, the authors were actually dressed as kangaroos!
Of course, their table was a favorite. And so was their latest book “My Genie and Me,” a children’s cookbook that promised to provide plenty of learning and fun for both kids and parents.
Efforts to raise funding for these give-a-ways are done in part by the Mesquite Sunrise Rotary Club book sale which took place earlier this Spring. The Eureka Resort also matches the funds raised. Then the books are purchased through Nevada’s “Spread the Word” reading program. The purpose is to keep the children in reading materials through the summer and keep them reading.
The children in attendance were very excited at receiving the new books. Many said that they had read all the previous books they have received from the program. Each child and each parent are allowed five books at the giveaway.
Blake and Cambria Olsen were there with their two children. Blake displayed great happiness when he found his favorite book on the 4th grade table. It was “Goosebumps.” He promptly added it to his allowance of five books.
“I know how important it is for the kids to be excited about reading,” said Nicole Burton, a former teacher.
The Powell family, including Larry, Cindy and eight-year-old Analia have made a tradition of coming to the event each year.
“I have read a lot of books that come from here,” said Analia, “Too many to count.”
Chasko reported that a total of 140 people came by the event to choose books.
“We gave away over 1,000 books,” she said. “And since it is the day before Easter, and I am a mom, everyone gets a package of “Peeps” along with their books!”
