Wheels move books across Butler to promote reading
CENTER TWP — Abigail Colonna sat under a tree as a summer breeze carried her to the world of Junie B. Jones.
“You need to read so you can learn,” said the 7-year-old Center Township Elementary student.
Kevin Colonna of Butler brought his two daughters to the school to exchange their books.
“They love summer reading. We do this every year,” Colonna said. “It gets kids out and reading especially during the summer ... it keeps them in the learning mode for when they go back to school.”
The second annual BookStop program kicked off summer reading last week at various sites in Butler County as children and adults picked out a free, gently used book and brought their own books to trade in the Butler School District's initiative to promote literacy in the community by providing free books to anyone who wants them.
Christina Oniboni of Butler took her four children to the BookStop to pick out summer reads.
“Kids love reading over the summer. They love picking out something new and hearing from the other kids what they like and recommendations,” Oniboni said. “We have to prevent that summer slug.”
Julie Hopp, the school district's director of curriculum, instruction and professional development, worked with the BookStop program funded by United Way in Allegheny County that has 14 school district participants, Hopp said.
When she came to Butler, Hopp was inspired to add the program to the community that already hosts a weekend backpack food program and a produce-to -people effort because it was a natural fit and as a way for the district to engage with the community, she said.
Thousands of books are collected through book drives and those who donate at the BookStop, she said. Donations are continuously accepted throughout the year.
In the spring, volunteers sort the books into different age categories, including birth to preschool, early elementary, upper elementary and adult, to prepare them for the routes.Over 100 children were seen on the Red Route stopping at Connoquenessing Elementary School, Alameda Park, Butler Memorial Park and Center Township Elementary School, said Amanda Gold, McQuistion Elementary School second-grade teacher.One additional route was added this year, she said. Three different routes stop at a variety of sites, including Greenview Gardens Apartments, Father Marinaro Park, St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church and Emily Brittain Elementary School.Runs through the community are done twice a year by volunteers in their own vehicles, she said. The BookStop will also make stops at community events.BookStop will be at the Stuff the Bus event July 9 and make another community run Aug. 14, where backpacks with school supplies will be also available.BookStop volunteers also handed out bookmarks with the Butler Library's summer schedule and kindergarten registration packets.As the only BookStop in Butler County, Hopp hopes to grow it to include different areas and create more opportunities for people.People interested in setting up a BookStop can contact Hopp at 724-214-3106.“I'm excited that the district doing this,” she said. “I feel like it's a win-win for community engagement and for promoting literacy and getting books into people hands.”Anyone can grab a book, Hopp said.“We want to promote literacy and reading,” she said. “Research shows the number of books in a house, just that fact alone, is an indicator of how well they will be as readers and their success in reading.We want to give everyone the most help that we can.”
The next Butler School District's BookStop will be July 9 at the Stuff-a-Bus food drive event at Emily Brittain Elementary School. On Aug. 14, BookStop will take to the routes again to deliver free books to children. Here are the routes:Blue RouteSt. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church: 10:30 — 10:55 a.m.Greenview Gardens Apartments: 11 — 11:25 a.m.South Hills Playground: 11:30 — 11:55 a.m.Old Plank Estates: noon — 12:30 p.m.Green RouteInstitute Hill playground: 10:30 — 10:55 a.m.Father Marinaro Park: 11 — 11:25 a.m.Rotary Park (Island playground): 11:30 — 11:55 a.m.Emily Brittain Elementary School: noon — 12:30 p.m.Red RouteConnoquenessing Elementary School: 10:30 — 10:55 a.m.Alameda Park: 11:25 — 11:55 a.m.Butler Memorial Park: noon — 12:25 p.m.Center Township Elementary School: 12:30 — 1 p.m.
1. Mix up your child's reading materials. Try magazines, digital books and newspapers.2. Make reading a part of your everyday schedule.3. Get stuck in a series. If your child isn't interested at all, read the first book together. Or you can read it out loud to him or her.4. Be part of a challenge. If you've participated in the same challenge year after year, try to find a new one or create your own family reading challenge.5. Make it cool to read. Host a small end-of-the-school-year Summer Reading Book Swap party. At the get-together, show each child and parent how easy it is to borrow eBooks on their electronic devices.SOURCE: Scholastic
