NORFOLK, Va. — Remember your favorite book growing up as a child? Perhaps it was a Dr. Seuss book, Harry Potter or Goosebumps? Well, once again, we're asking for your help to put books in the hands of local children so they can also discover the magic of reading.
Watch: Elementary students talk to Kurt Williams about their favorite books
Kasey loves reading books, especially from the animated Netflix series 'Gabby's Dollhouse.' I caught up with her in the school's library and asked her how she feels reading those books? "Happy!"
It's also where second grader Tremain was reading about some of his favorite Marvel superheroes, "The Hulk is big... he is green. He is very strong! Fellow student, six-year-old Kodi was also excited to be reading about another Marvel superhero, "Cause I love Spiderman... he can climb walls!"
Watch: Summer reading, with News 3's donated books, gives students a head start on school year
And many of these books that Kodi and his classmates love, came from a book fair last spring at St. Helena, that News 3 helped sponsor. St. Helena Media Specialist Nancy Stinson says it was a big hit with the students, "They got to pick whatever two books they wanted. They were very happy, such big smiles on their faces when they walked out the door."
It also meant a lot to Nancy.
"That enjoyment of reading because reading shouldn't just be at school—it should also take place at home and reading should be a love—- it can take you anywhere...from enjoyment, all the way up to your test scores— to your profession, you want to get into in the future."
Watch: Hodges Manor students celebrate 25 years of Harry Potter, receive copies of books from Scholastic
And these students like 10-year-old Raylin get it, "Reading is something you need, like you always need reading or you won't be able to do things in life without reading."
Tremain agrees, "If you don't know how to read then you will never know how, to like read something that you need to read that's important."
Watch: WTKR kicks off fall "If You Give a Child a Book..." campaign to help give more books to Hampton Roads students
This week, News 3 has launched its "If You Give A Child A Book" campaign, where you can help put books in the hands of local children. Nancy believes that's so important, "The kids love it. They experience the enjoyment of reading and they can pick what books they want and not just any old books, it's more popular books the kids really enjoy from our superheroes to sportsbooks to graphic novels.
So as we think about that phrase Nancy used, reading can take you anywhere, remember you have the power through your generosity to help put books in the hands of l students here in Hampton Roads.
