Volunteers foster literacy by reading, giving books to kids : NPR

LiTEArary Society volunteers read and donate copies of Pete the Cat: I like my white shoes to preschoolers in Grafton, West Virginia.

Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting

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Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Devan Chopra reads to a preschool class in Grafton, West Virginia. She is holding the book Pete the Cat.

“I’m here because I really want to spread the love of reading,” she said.

The high school senior participated in this Head Start program at Webster Pre School as a volunteer with the LiTEArary Society, an international group started in West Virginia that provides new picture books to preschoolers to develop a love of reading.

She has been volunteering with the LiTEArary Society for four years, since she was in 7th grade. The group collects books and takes them to classrooms like this for students to take home. This is an area where

Books are not always easily accessible to children.

“We transported books to Appalachia and that was the next step,” she said.

Webster Head Start teacher Nate Sorrel said they encourage volunteer visits because the novelty of new faces and information helps engage young learners.

“Kids, when they see someone else, they get so excited,” Sorrel said. “They see us every day, and not that they’re not excited for us, but seeing someone new and what they have to offer, it’s really good for our program.”

He said volunteers like Chopra, who not only read to children but bring books they can take home, are especially important for their impact on children’s literacy and language development.

“When they read Pete the Catand their faces light up, it’s really exciting, because they might not have that at home, they might not have the opportunity to experience the books,” Sorrel said.

LiTEArary Society volunteers read and donate copies of “Pete the Cat, I Like My White Shoes” to preschool children in Grafton, West Virginia.

Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting

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Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting

The American Academy of Pediatrics says reading with young children significantly strengthens relationships with caregivers and promotes early brain development, laying the foundation for school readiness and long-term benefits throughout life.

When Chopra asks if the children are ready to read their books, they can barely contain their excitement, squealing and bouncing in anticipation.

Rania Zuri created the LiTEArary Society – the name is a play on words on her love of reading and tea. She imagined it at her home in Morgantown about five years ago. It was then that she discovered “book deserts”, places where it is difficult to obtain children’s books.

“I was so sad to learn in middle school that so many kids don’t have the privilege of having a parent or guardian reading to them or having books in the house. And so when I started, I really wanted to start by donating Pete the Cat books, because it was my favorite.

Since then, she has created a nonprofit organization with thousands of volunteers who have donated more than $1,000,000 worth of new bestselling picture books to more than 91,000 preschoolers.

Volunteers like Chopra have helped the organization spread across the country. She said the LiTEArary Society makes it easy for middle school students to join. For Chopra, starting early was key.

“You can make a difference if you’re a kid. Because they’re younger, because they’re in middle school, in high school, they don’t think that what they’re doing is really, really going to make a difference. And to that, I say, look at the LiTEArary Society, because we’re completely youth-led.”

The reward of volunteering to read to children and bringing them their own books is obvious to her.

“Honestly, it means a lot to me because specifically in this state, I always think that if just one kid falls in love with reading and has the same passion that I had as a kid, then it’s all worth it.”

LiTEArary already has high school chapters in all 50 states. Although international sections are established in countries such as England, local children aged 12 and under are encouraged to get involved.

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