Reading leaders promote literacy at recent event

Rep. Sam Smith, house minority leader, read the story “If You Were A Penguin” to Head Start students last past week. (Photo by Larry McGuire/The Punxsutawney Spirit)

BROOKVILLE — Celebrity readers are participating in the “One Book Every Young Child” program at area Head Start Inc. facilities.
Rep. Sam Smith, house minority leader, and Jefferson County Commission Chairman Paul Corbin read the story “If You Were A Penguin” to the students this past week.

Tracy Weaver, of Community Action Inc., coordinator of the program, said this is a statewide literacy program developed in Pennsylvania four years ago.

“Each year, they choose a certain book, and they have it read throughout preschool, Head Start Inc. and child-related programs throughout the state,” she said. “In Jefferson County, we’ll have 20 different readings, which includes Headstart, Pre-K Counts and private pre-schools.”

Weaver said the Week of the Young Child is a national initiative through the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and will be coming up the week of April 20.

“In Pennsylvania, we do it throughout the month,” she said. “April is also Child Abuse Awareness Month, and there are all sorts of programs that are promoted throughout the month of April. We work with the literacy part of the program.”

“If You Were a Penguin,” a picture book by author and illustrator Wendell and Florence Minor for children ages three to six, is Pennsylvania’s “One Book, Every Young Child” 2009 selection.

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