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North Attleborough Martin School fifth grade students Ally Post and Nicole LaFond sort and pack books to be sent to soldiers as part of the United Through Reading program coordinated through the school library.
Reaching out with books
Wed Jan 30, 2008, 02:29 PM EST
Two North Attleborough schools, the Joseph Martin, Jr. Elementary School and the Falls Elementary School recently participated in book drive coordinated through the school libraries.
United Through Reading is a project where books are collected for soldiers, but not books for the soldiers to read for their own enjoyment. Rather, students and their families were asked to donate children's picture books, appropriate for children ages one through eighth,
United Through Reading, sponsored by the Family Literacy Foundation, makes it possible for soldiers who are serving in lraq or Afghanistan to videotape themselves reading children's books aloud. The videos can then be sent to the soldiers' young children. Seeing a parent or grandparent and hearing them read a story helps the families stay connected and reinforces the importance of reading.
Research has shown that the benefits of reading aloud to young children include developing strong literacy skills such as an expanded vocabulary and an increase in background knowledge.
The two North Attleborough Schools sent nearly 100 new or gently used books in the effort to support soldiers and help them stay connected to their children.
