Woodhaven students received free books as part of the “We Give Books Read Mobile” tour on Tuesday.
The “We Give Books Read Mobile” tour headed to the New York City Academy for Discovery in Woodhaven Tuesday, leaving children ecstatic about something that adults are hoping will leave a long lasting impression on them – reading.
The tour – an effort to promote literacy by the Penguin Group, the Pearson Foundation and LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. – has resulted in more than two million books being donated to schools and students. The Pearson Foundation, a nonprofit, provided free books given to students at the New York City Academy for Discovery, also known as P.S. 306. As part of the event, LeapFrog, a company specializing in educational entertainment for children, donated a prize pack to the school that is worth $1,000.
The New York City Academy of Discovery participated in a previous program that put them in the running for a visit from the tour.
“This school participated in our annual read for my school program in May,” said Lessa Manotti, We Give Books Program Manager. “We encourage public elementary schools to read online. For each book read we donate physical books to schools across the United States.”
“As a special surprise leap frog has sponsored a read mobile trip to some of the highest earning schools,” said Nicole Holland, a tour presenter.
Tuesday’s presentation started out with a reading of “Leap and the Lost Dinosaur.” Holland read to the kids while the pages and illustrations appeared on a screen.
“What we hope is that the kids will take away the importance and fun of reading,” she said.
Holland then touched the page and the characters in the book began to talk. All of the kids laughed and enjoyed reading with the LeapFrog mascot, Leap.
“I think it was great, the kids were really great here,” said Holland. “They responded so well and were really excited about their books.”
Next the kids each drew what they would want to be when they grow up and what tools they would need for the job.
“Knowledge is the most important tool,” Holland said to the kids. “Whatever you want to be when you grown up, books will be one of the most important tools.”
The kids then all shouted, “We love to read!”
During Tuesday’s event, students drew what they hope to do for a career and described what skills they would need for the job.
“We are here to spread the love of literacy to the kids,” said Manotti. “To practice their reading skills so they can become life long learners.”
The kids then all received a Disney “Cars” book.
“Often times when the [tour] visits a school we are giving a child the first book they ever owned,” Manotti said. “It’s really important for a child to have a book that they can call their own. These events are very successful.”
Up next for the tour is an initiative called “Read for the Record.” This is a plan to break the world record for the most children reading the same book. They hope to break the digital record through their website, WeGiveBooks.org. The book they will attempt the record for is “Otis” by Loren Long.
“One of our biggest pushes is on Oct. 3 we want to break the record of the most kids reading the same book on the same day,” said Holland. “We are hoping to have millions of kids across the country and world reading the same book on the same day.”
By Michael Florio
