Students gather ’round book tree for gift of reading (+ video)

Students at Crowders Creek Elementary School gathered around a book tree to celebrate Christmas, but also as a reminder to keep reading.

“I’m giving them the gift of words,” said Dorothy Guthrie, media specialist.

Students voted on stories for Guthrie to read, then sang songs after the readings. All sorts of books from the school library were used to build a small tree for students to encircle near the school’s entrance. Guthrie told students how they can give books for Christmas, or use books to talk about family and beliefs surrounding the holiday season.

Keeping students reading during their time away from school gives them a jump start on the latter half of the year when they return, she said.

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 3:09 PM with the headline "Students gather ’round book tree for gift of reading (+ video)."