Today is, as A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh so famously said, “a rather blustery day.” Snowflakes are flying, adding to the hefty drifts already covering the ground. The evergreen branches are host to drapes of snow. Outside my window at NYSUT headquarters, a flock of birds frantically pluck at berries from a tree. The hulking yellow plows are out in force, rumbling along the streets .
In other words, it’s a great day to curl up with a good book when you get home. Thanks to First Book, that’s just what many students will be able to do today. In Saranac Lake, where students are in school despite getting 15 inches of snow last night, students are talking books.
That’s because on Saturday, the Saranac Lake Teachers Association gave out 1,700 books! Kids lined up at the Adirondack Carousel, a beautiful building housing a carousel featuring animals indigenous to the Adirondacks — all hand-carved by local artisans. There’s a river otter, a brook trout, a moose, a rabbit, a black fly (yes, of course) a deer and a great blue heron, to name a few. Think Peter Rabbit, The Wind in the Willows. Above the twirling animals are murals of local outdoor scenes. In the midst of all the charm and music, students lined up, checked out the books, made their choice.
“We feel it’s important for students to have their own books to hold and keep and read and reread,” said Melissa DeVit, Saranac Lake TA co-president along with Don Carlisto.
Students also got a free ride on the carousel, and they were given cookies and banana bread.
“We provided more than 180 carousel rides,” said DeVit.
In the park outside the carousel, the local P.T.A. sold Christmas trees as a fundraiser, making it an all-around community event.
Most of the students were from the middle school, where sixth-grade teacher Maria DeAngela coordinated the First Book giveaway. Fliers announcing “Season’s Readings” were designed by teacher Karen Meimis to spread the good news about the event. The books came from the truckload of 40,000 books delivered recently in Saratoga. Through NYSUT and the AFT’s partnership with First Book, local union members are encouraged to sign up for First Book. For each 2,000 people who sign up, a truckload of books is delivered.
Downstate, in Tarrytown, the inaugural First Book challenge efforts of the Yonkers Federation of Teachers and North Rockload Teachers Association members resulted in a huge book day giveaway on the same day. The locals gave away 30,000 books to students whose teachers belonged to the Brewster TA, Clarkstown TA, Mt. Vernon Federation of Teachers, Pearl River TA, White Plains TA, St. Dominic’s SA and Thrall Library.
So, shovel the driveway, light the fire and settle in with a good book. Winter is here for awhile. Books are here forever.