For a decade, the Gary New Duluth Development Alliance has hosted it’s “I Love Reading Day” – a two day affair where students from nearby Stowe Elementary get to listen to guest readers, and leave with a bag full of books.

“Reading is fundamental for any kind of success moving forward, so anything that we can do to encourage it and to Make literature really available to kids especially those that might not have it otherwise.” Says Fran Morris, a board member of the Alliance.

On February 4, the event’s second day, guest readers included volunteers from the Daughters of the American Revolution, Duluth’s Mayor Roger Reinert, and Duluth School’s Superintendent John Magas.

“I think when adults read to children, they can read books that are slightly above the student’s reading ability themselves, and that can provide really good modeling for students to learn from,” Magas explained, himself a former teacher, “And I think also having students see adults as readers themselves is great modeling as well.”

After the story, students got to do some shopping – getting a chance to dig through hundreds of donated books both new and old. Each Stowe student got to choose two new books to keep, along with as many used books as they wanted to bring home. This is something Magas says is beneficial for young readers.

“If there’s books at home, there’s a greater chance that you’re gonna be literate and be able to function at a higher level. It also gives students something that they can read and practice on at home, and also, when we think about siblings or parents, it gives them an opportunity to say, ‘oh, there’s this new book that came home with my son or daughter. Let’s read, we haven’t done that for a while’, so it kind of reinvigorates that reading process.”

Students also got to visit with officers from the Duluth Police Department, explore a squad car, and visit one of the department’s most popular cops, K-9 Kallie.