All 4-year-olds in La Plata County are in for a treat this week as One Book 4 Colorado gives them each a free picture book when they visit their local library.
The book chosen for 2016 – Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andrae, with illustrations by Guy Parker-Rees – was announced Monday after people across Colorado voted for their favorites online. The other two finalists were One Drowsy Dragon by Ethan Long and I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt.
The book is available in both English and Spanish at all libraries in the county, including the Durango Public Library and its branches at Sunnyside and Fort Lewis Mesa elementary schools and the Ignacio and Pine River public libraries. People can pick up books during library hours through Friday.
“I ordered extra books in Spanish this year,” said Liz vonTauffkirchen at the Pine River Library in Bayfield.
“We’ve been doing a lot of outreach to our Latino families, and I’m hoping they’ll come in to pick up a book.”
VonTauffkirchen will also deliver books when she goes to Bayfield Early Education Programs on Tuesday for story time, as well as at the story times at the library Tuesday and Thursday.
For her, getting the books in kids’ hands is all that matters.
“If I see a family that has a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old, I’m going to give them a book,” she said. “We can’t emphasize how important it is to read to young children.”
One Book 4 Colorado resulted from a collaboration between Reach Out and Read Colorado, the Colorado State Library, public libraries, the private sector and foundations. It is modeled after the Denver Preschool Program’s Preschool One Book One Denver program.
One Book 4 Colorado expects to give away 75,000 books across the state this year. The giveaway was scheduled to coincide with National Library Week and the Week of the Young Child, both of which take place through Saturday.
abutler@durangoherald.com
On the Net
Visit www.onebook4colorado.org to learn more about One book 4 Colorado.
Preschools and child care providers are invited to participate in the program. Call the Durango Public Library at 375-3380 to learn more.
