Last year, Wyoming State Library staffers Tom Ivie and Angie Wolff got into the Wyoming Reads spirit, reading to kids at the Laramie County Library in Cheyenne.
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On Tuesday, May 16, nearly 8,000 books will be distributed to first-graders at Wyoming Reads literacy celebrations held in each of the state’s 23 counties.
Governor Matt Mead has issued a proclamation naming May 16 as Wyoming Literacy Day. First Lady Carol Mead will be a special guest at the 18th annual celebration in Natrona County.
At many libraries where the event will be held, celebrity readers will be stationed to read books to the children. There will also be a special fairytale about “The Good Queen Sue”—a tribute to Sue Jorgensen, in whose memory this event was established.
Wyoming Reads celebrations focus on the joy of reading, highlighted by each child receiving a hardback book with their name printed inside the cover, donated by the Sue Jorgensen Library Foundation.
Earlier this year, children had the opportunity to choose which book they would like to receive from the following options:
Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins- The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
- Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev
- Hoot and Peep by Lita Judge
- Good Night Baddies by Deborah Underwood
- Groovy Joe: Ice Cream and Dinosaurs by Eric Litwin
John Jorgensen established the Sue Jorgensen Library Foundation in 1996 and founded the Casper Cares, Casper Reads festival to honor his late wife’s commitment to children and reading. The celebration was expanded statewide as Wyoming Reads in 2006.
“Sue was always very dedicated to children and to literacy,” said John. “She believed that literacy was the foundation for everything in life.” That vision continues to fuel this community literacy initiative.
For more information, visit the Wyoming Reads website.