PORTSMOUTH, Va. — News 3 is committed to improving childhood literacy. The Scripps Howard Fund helps us raise money every year to put free books in the hands of students here in Hampton Roads through our 'If You Give a Child a Book' campaign.
News 3 is partnering with Hodges Manor Elementary School in Portsmouth where each of the 475 students, K-6th grade, were able to pick out five free books.
I was there when the fifth grade students got their books and they were buzzing with excitement over their favorite authors and titles.
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Portsmouth Hodges Manor Elementary gives each student 5 free books
“Ok, you’ve got quite a handful here, what’d you get?" I asked.
"The ‘I Survived’ book set, " said Maurice Yancey. "Pretty much based on history, so you're reading and learning at the same time."
“Ew! Guts what's that about?"
"So I read the first one 'Smile,' but ‘Guts’ is about a girl who wakes up with a terrible stomach ache," said Kayla Swann. "Her mom has one too and they think its like a bug or something."
News 3 viewers, local businesses and employees raise money and books every year for the campaign to make sure young people who are eager to read have popular new books available to them.
Watch previous coverage: Portsmouth Hodges Manor Elementary gives each student 5 free books
“I do love one main character is Grogu," said Mathias Streich. "I was looking at him and stuff like that and I just really love reading. Its so nice."
Grogu, by the way, is baby Yoda from the Star Wars series.
“In the age of iPads and video games, it’s gotta do your heart good to see these kids enjoying these books," I asked Principal Dennis Chalk.
"Absolutely, I mean for the kids to want to, the old fashioned way, sit back and and sit down and read the books," said Chalk. "They’ve been sitting here talking about it since they picked the books up."
And thanks to those community donations, the campaign raised $33,000 last year. Putting interesting books in the hands of eager learners is part of what makes these bright students Positively Hampton Roads.
