Submitted by Lacey Loves to Read
Every year students, parents, teachers and community members come together to celebrate Lacey’s love of reading and literacy with Lacey Loves to Read. The community literacy partnership between North Thurston Public Schools, Lacey Timberland Regional Library, City of Lacey and Lacey South Sound Chamber and many other businesses and sponsors is celebrating its 14th year – and it’s going to be a big one!
“February is an exciting time for readers of all ages in Lacey,” said co-chair Courtney Schrieve, and Community Relations Executive Director for North Thurston Public Schools. “We pride ourselves on being able to bring an award-winning author who appeals to a wide ranges of ages to our diverse community every year.”
This year the program – which includes a variety of contests and events – will feature New York Times bestselling Hispanic author Matt de la Peña who will visit schools and Lacey February 16-17. His book, Last Stop on Market Street, won the 2016 Newbery Medal. He has also published six young adult novels and another children’s book about boxing legend Joe Lewis.
While he describes himself as a reluctant reader growing up, Matt recognizes the need for diverse books in our culture.
“In university, I was introduced to one specific book that changed everything. It was called The Color Purple. It was the first time I had ever had an emotional reaction to a book…it almost moved me to tears,” he said in a recent indiegogo video. “Through African-American female authors I found Hispanic authors. We all need to see ourselves in books. But books are more than mirrors they are also windows…reading is the ultimate form of empathy. It’s important to read about people who aren’t like us.”
Nearly half of the students in North Thurston Public Schools are students of color, including 19 percent Hispanic. This year, Lacey Loves to Read, with support from local PTAs and Booster Clubs, purchased more books for libraries and high school classrooms. There is also a special Teen Open Mic night planned at 6:00 p.m., Feb. 14 at Forrey’s Forza.
“Books like de la Peña’s serve as access points, helping to engage kids—often for the first time—in the unique intellectual and emotional experiences that only literature can provide,” said North Thurston High School teacher-librarian Steve Coker. “He helps show reluctant readers what they’ve been missing.”
Students seem to relate to de la Peñas books on many levels. “We Were Here was the best book ever,” said Ramiah McMath, an enthusiastic 9th grader from North Thurston High School. “If we had more books like that in the library then I would probably finish reading this whole library!”
“In sharing a common reading experience and meeting a successful author, our young readers make connections between reading and writing as well as with each other and with the larger world,” said Anne Hales, Pleasant Glade Elementary teacher-librarian.
In addition to the author visit, student artists can celebrate literacy through an annual bookmark contest for Lacey Loves to Read. There are 27 winners in all including those from public, private and home schools. “They are kind of like the rock star ambassadors for Lacey Loves to Read,” Schrieve said. Students are recognized at City Council and School Board meetings as well as school assemblies. They also get a pre-meeting with the author before the Community Event and have their winning bookmark/art published and distributed throughout the community and schools. You can view all the winners here.
The Lacey Timberland Library is another key component to the program’s success, as Friends of the Lacey Timberland Library (the group who has the book sales!) have been a primary funding source of the program for years. The Lacey Timberland Library has also started sponsoring a student writing contest in conjunction with Lacey Loves to Read. This year’s winners will be introduced at a VIP reception on Feb. 15, and their work will be published.
Even local businesses are getting on board Lacey Loves to Read. Several years ago the Lacey South Sound Chamber started a “Read Around Lacey” contest which encourages elementary students and their families to visit participating local businesses and read aloud to employees. If students visit five or more businesses on the map, they are qualified to win some big prizes including a Kindle, book certificates and restaurant cards.
Additionally since a bus is the theme of one of the books this year, Intercity Transit got involved and had a city bus for kids to climb aboard at a Book-It Performance on Feb. 2 Actors performed Last Stop on Market Street and Intercity Transit drove kids to the event for free.
And then of course there are the preschoolers!
“The City of Lacey really prides itself on this unique partnership for literacy,” said Jeannette Sieler, Recreation Supervisor for Lacey Parks & Recreation and a long-time co-chair of the program. “From the Mayor reading to preschool students, to seniors sharing the authors’ work in book clubs, to businesses opening their doors for students to share their own writing and learn the importance of reading in life, it is an inclusive and valuable program that continues to grow each year!”
The public is invited to a free Community Author reception with Matt de la Peña at 6:00 p.m., February 16 at the Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Ave. NE. The River Ridge High School Choir will perform beforehand. There will also be free books from the South Sound Reading Foundation and Mr. de la Peña’s books for sale for signing at the event, and door prizes.
