Natrona County Library board member Shannon Dutcher reads to first-grade students during Casper’s 2015 Wyoming Reads event.
Today, over 8,000 books will be distributed to first-graders at Wyoming Reads literacy celebrations held in each of the state’s 23 counties.
Earlier this year, children had the opportunity to choose which book they would like to receive from the following options:
- 11 Experiments that Failed by Jenny Ofill and Nancy Carpenter
- The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
- Dewey Bob by Judy Schachner
- If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, DON’T by Elise Parsley
- Joone by Emily Kate Moon
- That is NOT a Good Idea! by Mo Willems
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.
This event was created in memory of Sue Jorgensen. In 1996, John Jorgensen established the Sue Jorgensen Library Foundation 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,” says John. “She believed that unless someone can read, they can’t really do anything else.” That vision continues to fuel this community literacy initiative.
The Wyoming State Library supports Wyoming Reads through its central acquisitions program. WSL uses its bulk purchasing power to order the children’s books at steep discounts, stretching the program’s dollars.
Governor Matt Mead has issued a proclamation naming May 17 as Wyoming Literacy Day. To view the proclamation, visit www.wyomingreads.org/news.
For more information on Wyoming Reads, visit www.wyomingreads.org.