Sno-Isle Libraries Third Graders Read Together program sparks lifelong love of learning

The Third Graders Read Together program by Sno-Isle Libraries has seen remarkable growth, expanding from 29 to 80 schools and involving around 6,600 students this year. This initiative, aimed at transitioning students from “learning to read” to “reading to learn,” culminated in the voting for the OTTER Award, with Jon Klassen’s "The Skull" winning for 2025. Participating students engaged in online events featuring authors like Kelly Starling Lyons, which provided insights into the writing process and inspired creativity. A school librarian remarked that students leave these visits with a better understanding of writing and a desire to create their own stories. The program emphasizes diversity by featuring literature that reflects various cultures and experiences, promoting broader understanding among young readers.

The Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation supports the initiative by supplying 3,550 OTTER books to local schools and classrooms. Looking forward, the library anticipates welcoming a new class of third graders next school year. In the meantime, the Summer Reading program encourages children to maintain their reading skills during the summer months.