May 19, 2023 – Easton Elementary School third and fourth graders got an amazing surprise from Bookmarks on Friday when the literary arts non-profit brought them a treasure trove of new books.
Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea is the latest graphic novel from Dav Pilkey, a comedic author and cartoonist also well-known for his Captain Underpants series. Pilkey’s work is highly popular with elementary school readers, and through Bookmarks’ donation, every third and fourth grader at Easton will get to take home their own copy. Principal Ramona Warren says that it does wonders for students’ love of reading that they’re able to easily access books that interest them with the help of community partners.
“It gives the children access that they otherwise may not have had, both to the books and to the authors,” Warren said. “It’s a great addition to what we’re building here.”
Bookmarks is a major supporter of literacy efforts among Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools students. Their staff members work with tens of thousands of students every year, as well as about 25,000 people at each of their annual Festivals of Books and Authors, and proceeds from sales at their bookstore go towards outreach programs that encourage people of all ages to read more. Their Authors in Schools program connects students with some of the most influential people they’ll ever meet as they learn to be effective communicators.
“When visiting authors interact with students, they answer questions about writing, the process of creating a book, their writing life, how to get ideas and write them onto paper, and the importance of reading in their lives,” reads the Bookmarks website. “These experts in the field of writing serve as role models and offer children goals for them to aspire to.”
WS/FCS is thankful to have the support of community partners like Bookmarks who take an interest in fostering strong reading habits in our students, and we look forward to working together to keep our students reading for years to come.
“If you’re considering getting new books, consider popping into Bookmarks to see what they have,” said Easton Media Coordinator Kristina Morris. “That way, we can continue to help this kind of thing happen.”
