Inspiring Imagination
There are few pleasures in the world as great to me as reading. As a child, I read voraciously, and without limits—I read about Greek Mythology, and biographies of great men and women, and Japanese Folk Tales, and about Lost Treasures of the Incas, and Fairy Tales, all with equal fervor. I traveled to other worlds with Charles Wallace Murray, and grew up alongside Taran Wanderer. I learned about Robot Detectives, and Magic Swords, and Time Machines. But most importantly, I learned that we live in a world without limits. And that's the most important lesson of all.—James A. Owen, The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica series
2016 Testimonial Archive
Kathy Eastman
Curator of Education, Arizona Museum of Natural History Foundation, Mesa, Arizona
December 17, 2016
Kids Need to Read generously donated books to the Arizona Museum of Natural History Foundation for a holiday foster children event. I thought you would like to see the email I received from one of the kids. I think she is 7 years old.
“thank you for giving me all those gifts. I already started reading ‘Princess of the wild swans’.”
Thank you for the generous book donation.
Sophelia Sykes
Kindergarten Teacher at Spann Elementary School, Jackson, Mississippi
December 13, 2016
We appreciate your assistance.
Leticia Barrera
First Grade Teacher at J.B. Sutton Elementary School, Phoenix, Arizona
December 7, 2016
My students and I appreciate the beautiful, exciting books you are providing.
Mrs. Elsa Sterrenberg
First Grade Teacher at J.B. Sutton Elementary School, Phoenix, Arizona
December 5, 2016
Thank you for helping the students with meaningful reading materials.
Allyssa R. Jones
Kindergarten Teacher at Lowell Elementary School, Mesa, Arizona
November 28, 2016
Our students loved to have the opportunity to take books home last year! This is a wonderful program. Thank you so much for your support in our student's reading development!
Bonnie Civille
Kindergarten Teacher at Palomino Primary School, Phoenix, Arizona
November 18, 2016
Thank you for doing this for us. :)
Karen Thompson
Kindergarten Teacher at La Vega Primary School, Waco, Texas
November 18, 2016
Read Together made such a difference in my classroom's reading abilities last year. I look forward to this year being the same or even better.
Katie Alford
Kindergarten Teacher at La Vega Primary School, Waco, Texas
November 17, 2016
Love that my students get new books to read every night.
Connie Holmes
Kindergarten Teacher at La Vega Primary School, Waco, Texas
November 17, 2016
The students really enjoy the stuffed animals, wish they could have gone home on the first day.
Karye Maine
Kindergarten Teacher at La Vega Primary School, Waco, Texas
November 17, 2016
The books are great! Thank you for the extra books this year.
Kathy Plummer
Kindergarten Teacher at La Vega Primary School, Waco, Texas
November 17, 2016
My students are really enjoying a different book each night!
Sharen Underwood
Kindergarten Teacher at La Vega Primary School, Waco, Texas
November 16, 2016
I love the program! Thank you for providing books for our students to use daily.
Ramona Pressgrove
Kindergarten Teacher at Spann Elementary School, Jackson, Mississippi
November 15, 2016
Thank you for the books
Patty Castro
First Grade Teacher at Guerrero Elementary School, Mesa, Arizona
November 11, 2016
The program is excellent. The students from last year were so excited.
Aimee Gerkin
Kindergarten Teacher at Palomino Primary School, Phoenix, Arizona
November 9, 2016
I am very excited to send books home with my students
Jessica Baxter
Grant Writer, Emerge! Center for Domestic Abuse, Tucson, Arizona
November 5, 2016
Thank you for bringing joy to our shelter. We are so grateful for the books you sent. Last week our operations manager stopped by my office to tell me how much everyone at our shelter loves the bounty of books! Shelter staff has been adding a few books each Friday—and all the kids go to the Children's Room first thing in the morning to find the newest treasures. It's turned into a major event and is the highlight of the week!
I've also heard that several children are planning to ask Santa for books this Christmas. Our family case coordinators reported at our last staff meeting that two children, who have struggled at school, have both brought "home" notes from their teachers about how well they are doing in reading—one student received a certificate for being a “book lover” and wanted to hang it on the fridge. It was a big deal and we all helped celebrate his achievment.
The books you sent have been a big hit and brought a lot of joy to the children, their mothers, and our staff. It makes me so happy to know that books are coveted and cool! I just wanted to share these stories with you and say thank you again for your help. I can't tell you how much we appreciate and love these books!
Shari Brown
Librarian II, Mesa Public Library, Mesa, Arizona
October 27, 2016
Thank you so much for the Halloween Boo book donation and your participation in today's event. Everyone had a great time! We're looking forward to future collaboration with your wonderful organization.
Michelle Gillespie Gomes
Event Coordinator, Valley View Community Food Bank, El Mirage, Arizona
October 6, 2016
Thank you for all the help you gave at the “Back to School” event. Thankfully, each year we have more groups helping us - with all our needs, and sharing their talents.
With our move to El Mirage, more families with children are seeking our services than ever before. With your support, this year we helped over 500 children get ready for school.
Special help from all the Stylists, Peoria Firefighters Station #138, Banner Boswell Nurses, the Girl Scout Troup leader Kim Belcher #1957, Kids Need to Read, and all the SUPER HEROES at Justice League of Arizona made this a truly special day. Children left with big smiles, looking good and ready to start school.
Thanks to you the day was a success.
Chanel Sharp
Finance & Employment Specialist, BCFS Health & Human Services, Abilene, Texas
September 13, 2016
I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for all of your help and your kindness. It means so much to me, my team and I know the kids are going to be so excited about their new books. I think that your organization is wonderful and it has been a pleasure to work with you these past couple weeks.
Vicki Latham
Teacher, Spann Elementary, Jackson, Mississippi
August 12, 2016
You folks are phenomenal. I listened to a little girl from China reading thru the books you sent us last year. She was FLYING thru them. She's in 1st grade now...but had access to your books last year. She was still learning English. No kidding...she can whiz thru those books now. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
Jessica Baxter
Grant Writer, Emerge! Center for Domestic Abuse, Tucson, Arizona
August 5, 2016
We just wanted to send everyone at Kids Need to Read a quick note to say thank you so much for the generous donation of books.
When I shared the news with the staff at shelter they literally cheered. These books will be loved and mean a lot to the children at shelter, their mothers, and all of us at Emerge!
Anonymous
Attendee, Phoenix Comicon, Phoenix, Arizona
June 5, 2016
Everyone [at the Kids Need to Read booth] was so enthusiastic and helpful. This is a great charity, and I felt the people cared immensly about helping kids. :)
Tina Hall
Teacher, H.E. White Elementary, Bomont, West Virginia
May 9, 2016
READ Together was beneficial to our Kindergarten students. Many of them showed a lot of enthusiasm in reading the books each night. I provided "Reward Bucks" to students after they read so many books on their log. Many of our students do not have books at home, so this program has been instrumental in providing materials for them to sharpen their reading skills at home.
Martha Bartz
Parenting Facilitator, Prairie du Chien Correctional Facility, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
May 6, 2016
Just to let you know what is going on with our first ever Family day – May 21, 2016 at Prairie du Chien Correctional Facility. We have received your wonderful and generous donation of free books. Thanks again. What we have done is take the books and asked the inmates to pick one book and read it to their child or children. We placed our cameras in a room and videotaped the inmate reading to their child or children. Then on the 21 of May – the child can take the book and DVD home with them. The children will be allowed to take 2–3 more additional books home with them as well. We started out videotaping today – and oh my goodness, it has been great. The men are just loving this activity. They each picked a book their child or children would like, and then we practiced and videotaped. It has been the best experience for them and for us. I have let a few tears come when some of them got into the reading of the books. Some men were so animated and funny. Some were serious and so respectful. Regardless, the books have been a great big hit.
Colleen O�Neill
Reading Specialist, Ocean Avenue Elementary, Middletown, New Jersey
May 2, 2016
READ Together was absolutely beneficial to our Kindergarten students. The parents were thrilled as were the children with the books that came home each night. Doing parent workshops helped them to understand the purpose and importance of the nightly reading. With a few exceptions most books came back each day. We put stickers in the top corner of each book to help us keep track of which books were from READ together which helped with organization.
Lynn Risenhoover
Advocate For Tribal Students K�6, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Port Angeles, Washington
April 22, 2016
The Lower Elwha Tribe wants to thank you very much for the four boxes of wonderful books we received!! Our children will enjoy receiving their books as they continue to participate in our Reading Challenge Program!!!
Heidi Love
Teacher, Berean Academy, Sierra Vista, Arizona
April 14, 2016
Yes. My students were very excited to participate in program. I could tell after the first week of taking their reading buddies and their books to read they were more into reading. They were always asking “Are we taking a new book today?” Some of them were coming back and telling us what they read. If students had to go home early, the parents would ask for their books because their child loved to read.
Marge Cernak
Trustee, Cleveland Police Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
April 12, 2016
Just received 3 boxes of books for the Little Free Library at the Cleveland Police Museum.
Thank you so much from the Cleveland Police Historical Society and the children and youth who will receive a free book to encourage their love of reading and learning.
Jennifer E. Bucknam
Teacher, Parr Elementary, Arvada, Colorado
April 8, 2016
Yes, I think that it was beneficial for our Kindergarten students. I think that it really excited a lot of them when they got to “check out” additional books for reading, and they all enjoyed receiving a reading buddy to read to.
Lisa Seawright
Principal, LaVega Primary, Waco, Texas
April 8, 2016
READ Together has been very beneficial. Students are reading more at home, as is evidenced by the book logs. They are excited when they receive things to take home, and parents seem to take more of an interest in keeping the logs current. Student reading skills have increased for a number of reasons, one of which we believe is this program. We are really excited about the books that the students get to take home for the summer, too!
Lisette Ruiz
Teacher, Mexicoytl Academy, Tucson, Arizona
April 8, 2016
READ Together has been very beneficial. Students are reading more at home, as is evidenced by the book logs. They are excited when they receive things to take home, and parents seem to take more of an interest in keeping the logs current. Student reading skills have increased for a number of reasons, one of which we believe is this program. We are really excited about the books that the students get to take home for the summer, too!
Haniyah Jones
Teacher, 107th Street Elementary, Los Angeles, California
April 6, 2016
The READ Together program was very beneficial. One way that the program was beneficial was that it provided students who do not have access to books, or transportation to get books the books they needed to read on a daily basis. Another benefit of students being provided books on a daily basis was that they their exposure to language was increased. Students also learned to be responsible and to bring the books back on a daily basis. It was great because the program required parents to participate and model reading with their children because most kinder were developing readers. The parents reading with their child also gave the parent insight as to their child's reading development.
Amanda Stoffey
Character Ed Teacher, CICS Prairie, Chicago, Illinois
April 6, 2016
The READ Together program was extremely beneficial for our kindergarten students because many of them do not have books at home. The majority of our kindergarteners enter our school as non-readers with very little letter/sound knowledge. At the beginning of the year, the leveled readers were used as "Read to Me" books--sent home for families to read to their child. The second half of the year the students were able to take the books home and read to their families which was an exciting progression.
Allison J. Baumgardner
Reading/Literacy Coach, Edith L. Frierson Elementary School, Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina
April 5, 2016
Thank you for partnering with our school to participate in [READ Together]. Our kindergarten students greatly benefitted from having access to books on their level. Our students did not have a lot of resources before receiving these books. In allowing our students to take these books home for practice with reading, it helped parents understand what to read with their students.
Colleen O'Neil
Reading Specialist, Ocean Avenue Elementary School, Middletown, New Jersey
April 4, 2016
We were so pleased with the selection of little readers that were shipped in the beginning of the year, as well as the Highlights Magazine and the Stuffy Buddies. The program has been a huge success thus far and the response from teachers and parents has been very positive.
Muriel Stevens and Marie Bracki
Reading Action Program Co-chairpersons, Arizona Lions District 21-B, Tucson, Arizona
March 27, 2016
Denise Gary, from Kids Need to Read, read [The] Little Flame, a book she had written. The book uses a flame to help children understand special traits so important to getting along with others like peace, tolerance, compassion, integrity and perseverance. Vocabulary was developed as well as enjoyment from all ages. The author held the whole ballroom spellbound.
Kathryn Hoffman-Thompson
Sixth Grade Teacher, Pine Point School, Ponsford, Minnesota
March 22, 2016
I just came to the school to do some work over our
break and found two boxes had arrived from you! So exciting to
see boxes of books for kids to read! What a wonderful
organization you are part of! It must feel a little like
Christmas packing up these books knowing how happy they will
make kids.
Thank you so much!!
Vikki Cervantes
City Librarian, Porterville City Library, Porterville, California
March 15, 2016
Oh behalf of the Porterville City Library we cannot thank [Gary and Tina Mlodzik] and the Kids Need to Read “Grow Your Library” project for choosing our community library as your first stop of 2016!
We are beyond blessed by your organization's generosity and commitment to sharing the love of reading with our children.
We truly appreciate your time and your team's dedication with the selection and shipping of print materials. However, I must say that it was truly delightful to meet both of you in person and see your passion shine for public libraries as an institution and the support we provide to our community through early literacy programs.
Muriel Stevens
Reading Action Program Co-chairperson, Arizona Lions District 21-B, Tucson, Arizona
March 14, 2016
Thank you [Executive Director Denise Gary] so much for the super presentation. You made the story live! You helped make our first Reading Fair a tremendous success.
I hope I get to work with you again sometime. Please thank [Operations Director Lori Cothrun] for getting the superheroes. What a hit they were!
Thanks again for your generosity. You thrilled many children. I know they have been reading all weekend. I think the parents were inspired also.
Keep the words flowing.
Heidi Love
Title I Coordinator, Berean Academy, Sierra Vista, Arizona
March 11, 2016
. . . the kindergarten teacher has been sending the books home every day with students, and they are loving the [READ Together] program and the participation they are seeing from parents. Thank you so much!
Gloria Weddle
Teacher, Brunson-Lee Elementary School, Phoenix, Arizona
February 25, 2016
What a privilege for our students to have [Executive Director] Denise Gary come and read her book [The Little Flame] to our class! She is an animated story teller with a delightful book to share. Our students loved the story time and have really enjoyed having their own book!
Charity Kranz
ELD Program Director, Mesa Arts
Academy, Mesa, Arizona
February 23, 2016
Thanks again for the Highlights magazines for our Literacy Night! . . . We appreciate the donation; our students were so excited to receive a free copy!
Deedie Braender
Mendoza IMRT, Mendoza Elementary School, San Diego, California
February 10, 2016
I must say Eric's visit was very well received. I could hear the students lined up at the auditorium door saying, “There he is, look at him”. They were so excited to meet a true author, and it didn't hurt that his book [The Last Ride of Caleb O'Toole] was so entertaining. I know because I read it too. I thought it an action packed, well written slice of American history with the twist of the protagonist being a young boy.
Both of his books, which are historical fiction, tie in with our curriculum . . . so AMAZING.
Colleen O'Neil
Reading Specialist, Ocean Avenue Elementary School, Middletown, New Jersey
February 3, 2016
(From Goodreads)
We got the grant for “Read Together” this year and it has been wonderful! Our kindergarten students each get a new book to take home and read with their families each night. They bring them back to get another. The books are great, at low levels, and the kids and parents love them. They also got a stuffed animal and a highlights magazine to read over winter break. Easy to apply and you won't regret it!
Maggie Gibbons
Librarian, Adams STEM Academy, Ypsilanti, Michigan
January 28, 2016
Dear Literacy Champions, I am writing to say thank you for the book grant you gave to Adams STEM Academy in Ypsilanti, Michigan in 2014. Your grant helped us to bring our library back to life. We recently were awarded a James Patterson/Scholastic Partnership grant and I believe the KNTR grant helped us to achieve that. I wanted you to know that your efforts and generosity are still paying dividends at Adams.
Cayle Church
Librarian, Kingman Middle School, Kingman, Arizona
January 19, 2016
I got all 3 boxes today, opened the boxes and smelled the glorious smell of NEW BOOKS! Walking down the hall and kids looking into my boxes yelling at their friends MRS. CHURCH GOT THE NEW BOOKS! We are forever grateful to your organization for the act of kindness you have displayed.
Margaret Codina
Reading Interventionist, J. B. Sutton Elementary School, Phoenix, Arizona
January 5, 2016
I thought the presentation by Steven Riley for our kindergarten students was outstanding! Kindergarten is a hard age to keep engaged, and he had our 150 kindergarteners engaged and enjoying themselves throughout the presentation. What�s even more amazing is that he incorporated teaching standards for literature while entertaining our kids. I couldn�t recommend this presentation more highly.
Katherine Knight
Teacher, J. B. Sutton Elementary School, Phoenix, Arizona
January 5, 2016
The presentation from Kids Need to Read was outstanding. Students were engaged in learning and were excited about meeting an author. Greatly appreciate KNTR for bring in Steven Riley to present to our school. Students enhanced their learning about what an author and an illustrator does and learned it through a fun and engaging way. Steven Riley is an amazing author/illustrator and my students loved the story Little Ty Cooney and the Grand Canyon Tour Company. It's heartwarming seeing my students excited about reading to their new reading buddies.
Della Guzman
Teacher, J. B. Sutton Elementary School, Phoenix, Arizona
January 5, 2016
My whole class was excited to share with me that they met a real life “author and illustrator”; they all showed me their books and couldn't stop smiling.
Linda Marlowe
Teacher, J. B. Sutton Elementary School, Phoenix, Arizona
January 5, 2016
I was very impressed with our guest speaker. I felt it was age appropriate. He used different visuals (dance, drawing, singing), TPR actions and humor to encourage student engagement. I wish he would have told more about himself and showed all three of his books and what inspired him to create his characters for his stories. Since Wed. I have used “What is the theme of a book? It is what the story is about,” and my students wave their hands up and down. Is there a way he could return, read his book and then talk about the different parts of the book, the author, illustrator? Love to see him come and do mini inservice before and after school to encourage voice and drawing to express young writers and readers. Is it possible to have his address so my students and I can personally write to him? Let's bring him and other artists to perform Read Across America week or day. Let's get the press involved from AEA and the NEA. Take pictures and have them submitted to be printed in the magazines by these educational organizations. Thank you for organizing this event!
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