NORFOLK, Va. — Students at St. Helena Elementary in the Berkley neighborhood of Norfolk got a big surprise. Their teachers led them to the library to pick out five free books.
“What do you have? ‘Green Eggs and Ham,’ ‘Lilo & Stitch,’ ‘Bluey’ and a Bluey ‘lock’ book,” a kindergartner said.
Those kindergartners burst into the library with such enthusiasm it was contagious.
Every student at St. Helena Elementary gets to pick out brand-new books for the third year thanks to our book campaign, “If You Give a Child a Book.”
“That’s a chapter book. You’re reading chapter books — that’s wonderful. It’s very nice because I love chapter books,” Kehlani Brodax said.
It’s a partnership among News 3, the Scripps Howard Fund and viewers. Together, we raised $43,000 to buy books for Title I schools in our neighborhoods.
“Is that Lilo & Stitch? Oh, cool! I like this one already,” said Khloe Webb. “Looks like it’s got a little piggy on there. Yeah.”
“With this opportunity, the kids get to pick whatever they want to. When they walk in the doors, their eyes are wide open — wow! Look at all the books!” said Nancy Stinson, media specialist.
New books, smiles and lots of love at St. Helena Elementary.
St. Helena Elementary and its young readers are positively Hampton Roads.
