Ryan Sullivan, a kindergarten student at the Granville Village School, creates a homemade bookmark during World Book night at the school Tuesday. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
GRANVILLE – Residents of Granville participated in World Book Night this week.
Granville Village School kindergarten teacher Linda Dickinson organized an event at the school after reading about the international celebration in The Pennysaver.
“I read an article in January and organized something here in Granville,” she said.
The World Book Night is modeled after a British program created in 2010 and the goal is to spread the love of reading from person to person.”
Dickinson is an avid reader and boasts an extensive home library. A frequent visitor of the Granville Library, Dickinson wanted to share the world of books with her students and their families.
“We had guests reading, a book swap, a bookmark craft, and door prizes,” Dickinson said of the Granville event. “It was a whole night about books.”
Door prizes (new books, of course) were purchased with support from the Granville parents Association. About 25 people attended the celebration, but Dickinson hopes to increase that number next year.
“I wanted more to come, but everybody who was there said it was a great idea,” said Dickinson. “II hope it becomes an annual event.”
Guest readers chose a variety of books and sat in a special rocking chair on stage, creating a cozy atmosphere for the young listeners. Dickinson sad although the event was open to all grades, most participants were in kindergarten through grade two.
Dickinson said introducing books to young children is the key to their future.
“It opens the world for them,” she said. “It’s very important to succeed in school, and there has to be that connection with reading.”
