Three Linwood E. Howe Elementary School fifth-graders looked at the books they had outgrown gathering dust on the shelves and decided they could put them to better use. So, Jasmine Martinez, Andrea Mazarigo and Emily Kawano organized a book drive the benefit preschool students at the CCUSD Office of Child Development.
“A bunch of us had extra books that we used to read, but we don’t anymore,” said Emily, who helped organize an event earlier this week where preschool students got to pick as many as seven books to take home for free.
The gently used books were put on display for the preschoolers in the Lin Howe cafetorium and the children’s eyes lit up as the roamed throughout the room selecting their new treasures.
“Their faces were like, ‘Wow!'” said Emily.
For some of the preschoolers, economic circumstances make it difficult to build a home library – something that certainly aids in developing literacy skills. The book drive, in which hundreds of books were collected from Lin Howe students who had outgrown them, helped the preschoolers get a head start in stocking their bookshelves at home.
“We wanted to help the community because it has always helped us, ” said Andrea. “I heard one parent say they wanted to buy books, but they couldn’t. Now, they have them.”
Pictured are, from left, fifth-graders Jasmine Martinez, Andrea Mazarigo and Emily Kawano.
-Culver Currents
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