Base librarians encourage young readers

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Janine Thibault
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Boys across Eielson were invited to a Guys Read Party Feb. 27 at the library here. The party offered a new way to look at reading and was the finale to a program that reached out to children to spark their interest in books.

The Guys Read program is a national program geared toward fourth grade boys, when boys typically start losing interest in reading.

"They think it isn't cool or they aren't interested," said Karleen Jacobson, the base library technical technician.

Recently at Eielson and around the Fairbanks area, men have been volunteering to read books to boys during the lunch hour, and talking about what they've read, she added.

"Last year we decided to do a party at the end for the kids. This year we opened it to all elementary school age boys. We have a number of books that we have taken that have inspired a number of games and crafts," said Ms. Jacobson.

Although the titles and topics seem to be a little unorthodox, they captured the minds of the young boys and peaked their interest. The hour and a half party featured children's books including Captain Underpants, Walter the Farting Dog and How to Eat Fried Worms.

"I think it's all about lifelong learning and books -- building and peaking their interest and helping them grow," said Marcia Lee, the supervisory librarian.

During the event the boys enjoyed activities that stimulated their imaginations like new creative names from the Captain Underpants name change-o-chart 2000, and Mad Libs that created wild stories with the parts of speech.

They also were treated to foods based on the stories in the books, including boiled, fried, and dessert 'worms'.

"The boys were very concerned when I told them they had to eat their worms but very excited when I told them their sisters couldn't come, that the only girl that could come is Mom," said Ms. Jacobson.

During the festivities, the boys listened to selections from a couple stories read by members of the Ben Eielson Senior High Reserve Officer Training Corps, a young father and a master sergeant.

They threw toy grenades into an outhouse, participated in a book search and made slime. Afterwards, the boys learned how to use the library cataloguing system to help them find books they're interested in.

By participating in creative events that are based on the events in the stories, children saw how fun reading can be.

"It's just creative programming at its finest for the young boys here," said Ms. Lee.
Just as the boys had the Guys Read Party, the girls will have their Perfectly Posh "Fancy Nancy" party March 27 at the base library. The girls are encouraged to dress in fancy clothes and bring their manners in the spirit of Fancy Nancy.

The Fancy event ties in lessons from the book, but the program also has another focus.

"The party also ties in vocabulary development because the main character has a large vocabulary," said Ms. Lee.

Both the Guys Read and Fancy Nancy party are sponsored by the Eielson Air Force Base library and its staff to encourage reading at a young age.