Lacey Loves to Read Program enters 21st year

Lacey Loves to Read Program is celebrating its 21st year in February, continuing its mission to engage the community in reading award-winning children's and young adult books.

At the city council meeting on Tuesday, January 16, the Lacey Loves to Read recognized the Bookmark Design contest winners, an art contest open to K-12 students with winners selected from each grade level.

According to Jami Roberts, director of English Language Arts, Social Studies and Library Program at North Thurston Public Schools, almost 4,000 students entered the contest this year.

"We have 24 winners representing every school in the district and private schools, homeschoolers, and community," said Roberts, who also announced the grand winners of each grade level:

• Annalise Cresto, Horizon Elementary School, Grades K-1
• Lucas Saruer, Olympic View Elementary School, Grades 2-3
• Lauren Solorio-Rios, Mountain View Elementary School, Grades 4-5
• Aspen Bermensolo, Salish Middle School, Grades 6-8
• Nina Williamson, River Ridge High School, Grades 9-12
• Naomi Montgomery, Northwest Christian Academy, community
• Roann Aquino, River Ridge High School, Superintendent's choice

The winning bookmarks will be displayed at the Lacey Timberland Library throughout February.

Other activities

Jordy Ratkie, Lacey Lovers to Read recreation coordinator, said the program this year will also feature Newbery Medal and Pura Belpre Award winner and New York Times bestselling author Donna Barba Higuera, whose works are about kids who find themselves in odd or scary situations.

Each year, Ratkie said, Lacey Loves to Read features authors who have written various books which will spark interest and encourage reading for all ages.

The Lacey Loves to Read and Lacey Timberland Library will sponsor Teen Writing and Cover Arts contests for middle and high school students.

"The goal of the teen writing and cover art contest is to give teenagers a special chance to participate in Lacey loves to read by sharing their writing and art skills," Ratkie said.

"The committee is currently going through the judging process for this year's entries” Ratkie added. “The winners will have their work preserved in e-book and be recognized at a special reception with the author during her visit."

Read Around Lacey is an interactive literacy adventure around the community. Students from grades k-5 from North Thurston Public Schools are encouraged to participate on January 12-26.

Higuera, the featured author for Lacey Loves to Read, will visit from February 14-16 and meet the students at some assemblies. She will also meet the Lacey community at Koval Center at North Thurston High School on February 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Proclamation

The Lacey City Council proclaimed February 2024 as "Lacey City Loves to Read" Month to encourage community members of all ages to celebrate the importance of reading and discuss the works by featured authored Higuera, who will visit the city from Feb. 14-16, 2024.

"Literacy remains a top school and community priority and is integral to success in school, business, and daily living. Providing opportunities for community members of all ages to discuss the cultural and literary merits of reading will help create a culture of "20 minutes a day" family practice and civic pride in Lacey," stated the proclamation.

The collaborative efforts of North Thurston Public Schools, Lacey City, and the Lacey Timberland Regional Library have facilitated initiatives like the "Lacey Loves to Read" month, fostering a culture of daily reading and civic pride.