TULSA, Okla. — It is said, the only constant to depend on is things will change, and according to one Tulsa 10-year-old student, that is true, but for her, there’s always a book tohelp you through it.
For the last story of our month-long ‘If You Give a Child a Book Campaign,’ 2 Works For You News introduces you to Vanessa, a Union 5th grade student encouraging reading.
What she finds in fiction books, between the pages, she said, is a way to walk through life with a better perspective.
“Reading is really fun because it teaches you lessons,” Vanessa said. “You can see what the characters see and go through, and it helps you in real life.”
Vanessa said that’s why she is always so excited to see the Gaining Ground Literacy bus every week over the summer.
“It was really exciting because I was like there’s going to be a new surprise. I can’t wait,” Vanessa said.
Gaining Ground Literacy is a non-profit dedicated to providing new books to students across the Tulsa metro area. The Executive Director Lisa Shotts said while providing books for kids, they want to encourage a lifelong love of reading.
“I have like, I don’t know… a lot of books,” Vanessa chuckled. “I’ve learned from all of them.”
“We want to load up their home libraries with highly engaging books, culturally responsive books, and books that they will read and build lifelong reading habits,” Shotts said. “By providing new adventures every day.”
In addition to giving students new books, Gaining Ground Literacy provides students with opportunities to share what they’ve learned and their favorite books.
“We don’t want to just give them books because, but opportunities to further develop the ideas they learn in them,” Shotts said. “Truly, that’s what builds lifelong reading habits, is that you are not reading in a vacuum, that you share it with everyone, and that’s what we want to do.”
CLICK HERE to donate to the If You Give a Child a Book campaign.
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