“Reading is an important key to unlocking the potential of all children,” says Joslyn DeLancey, CEA Vice President and President of CEA’s charitable arm, the Connecticut Education Foundation (CEF). That’s why CEF kicked off its annual Read Across Connecticut weeklong celebration today to help spread the joy of reading to hundreds of students in Torrington.
Dressed as Ms. Llama, DeLancey started the day at Torringford Elementary by reading Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney to an assembly of preK through first graders and later read The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Gary Rubinstein and Mark Pett to second and third graders. The day also featured guest readers from the community who shared their love of reading.
“Read Across Connecticut is a fun and engaging way for community partners to join us in promoting literacy and lifelong learning, showing our students that strong reading habits are an essential way to build knowledge and creativity,” DeLancey says.
PreK through grade 1 students chose a new book to take home and also received a book bag of reading resources including journals, stickers, erasers, and a “Reading Is a Llama Fun” llama reading buddy.
CEF is at Torringford School Monday and Tuesday and will continue the celebration at Vogel-Wetmore School on Wednesday and Thursday.
To culminate Read Across Connecticut, CEF is hosting its second annual book drive. This event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, at Blue Back Square in West Hartford. Literacy-based crafts and games will take place throughout the day.
This book drive, which partners with Blue Back Square and iHeartRadio, has collected thousands of book donations in previous years to provide to Connecticut educators and stock Little Free Libraries across the state. CEF is seeking donations of new or lightly used books for K-12 reading levels.
“We know that reading is the foundation for future learning,” says DeLancey. “By providing books to children who may not have them at home, we are fostering a love of reading and helping to close the literacy gap.”
