Children gather around free, gently used books at the Alameda Park Purple Playground, during Butler Area School District's first run of the BookStop program on June 18, 2018.

Ninety-degree weather couldn't keep Bulter Area School District teachers, administrators and principals from spreading the joy of reading.

On Monday the district kicked off the first BookStop Tour for the Bulter area. For almost six hours, 20 volunteers from the Butler Education Association (BEA) were split between two routes that traveled around the school district with a truck full of books to give out to children.

Kara Droney, the director of communication for the district, was happy with the turnout.

“We estimate that about 150 kids received books,” she said. “We hope that number will grow each time the BookStop makes a run through our community.”

Children could visit the BookStop crew at one of 13 stops and pick out a free gently used book to take home and read for the summer. The children also had the option to bring a book to trade as well.

“The purpose of the program is to encourage reading over the summer,” Droney said. “We hope that encouraging kids to select a book that is of interest to them will generate excitement for reading.”

The BookStop will happen once a month throughout the summer.

The next BookStop will be July 10, at the Stuff-a-Bus food drive event at Emily Brittain Elementary School. On August 17, BookStop will take to the routes again to deliver free books to children.

A full story about BookStop will appear in the Eagle.