Spreading The Word About Reading

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

Kids from all three primary schools in Mesquite were invited to participate in a “Spread the Word Nevada” Mesquite Reads experience on Saturday, May 22 at the Rising Star Ranch Resort Ballroom.

The children were invited to come and choose any four books that interested them from a vast collection of kids volumes. Adults who brought the kids could choose one book as well.

Each participant also received a pencil with a small fuzzy koala bear attached. This little gift made the kids smile.
Approximately 80 kids and 60 adults participated in the event.

Local author Roo Arledge, who wrote the childrens’ series My Genie and Me, brought her books to be available free to the children.

Arledge has been writing children’s books for about 5 years. Her latest work is a cookbook for children with simple ‘no-cook’ recipes. She was clearly enjoying her time there with the children.
Arledge’s other job is Director of Food and Beverage at the Eureka Resort.

This Mesquite Reads event was a partnership between the Eureka Community Initiative, the Mesquite Sunrise Rotary Club and “Spread the Word Nevada,” a nonprofit, dedicated to advancing early childhood literacy by placing books into the hands and homes of children within Nevada’s at-risk, low-income communities.

Rotary Club members had cleaned the gently used/loved books provided by “Spread the Word NV Program.” They also manned the Ballroom on Saturday.

Also helping out that day wash Gerri Chasko, Director of the Eureka Community Initiative.
“The day went very well!” said Chasko. “Having this event off site from the schools meant the parents could be here as well.”

The books were displayed on tables. Children searched through each table for books that interested them. Each also received a bag to carry the books and the goodies being handed out from the Rotary Club.

Local moms Page Woods and Sky Beskin brought their kids to get books.
“We got the flyer from the school and the kids wanted to come,” Wood said. “This is great.”