United Way to give away books, host story time at PCPL Thursday

United Way of Central Indiana will give away books and host a reading event this week at the Putnam County Public Library for Read Across America Day.

Volunteers with United Way’s Real Men Read program will read to children and families from 4-5 p.m. Thursday, March 3, in the library’s children’s room. The program will feature a double-header reading of “Be You!” by Peter Reynolds and “The Good Egg” by Jory John and Pete Oswald.

During Thursday’s event, families will be able to take home free copies of the books on a first-come, first-served basis to add to their children’s personal libraries. Books will continue to be distributed after the event while supplies last.

Early childhood education is a major focus of United Way of Central Indiana. For seven years, United Way has operated the Real Men Read program in Putnam County, which provides story time events and free books to every kindergarten classroom in the county.

United Way also runs the ReadUP program, which for 14 years has sent volunteers into schools across the region to read with third-graders who are falling behind on their literacy skills. Third grade is a considered a significant milestone that marks a shift from learning to read to reading to learn.

In all, United Way will donate about 2,000 books to first- through third-graders for Read Across America Day, sending books to two Indianapolis charter schools and libraries in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Morgan and Putnam counties.