Book Cab Delivers Summer Reading, Fun to Plymouth-Canton Students

During the school year, Plymouth resident Pete Puzzuoli is a third-grade teacher at Field Elementary. But when summer hits, he becomes a strange mix between a pedicab driver, librarian and ice cream man.

For the second year, Puzzuoli spends one day a week promoting summer reading by allowing children to choose a book to take home with them - then the real fun starts with a ride in Puzzuoli's bike cab and ends with a popsicle treat. 

"I figure its something for kids to look forward to during the summer if they're a little bored, especially kids who don't go away for camp or have a lot of other things to do," Puzzuoli said.

Last year, Puzzouli held the book cab program in the neighborhoods surrounding Field Elementary. This year, he figured it would be easiest to hold it at the school. Now he camps out every Wednesday from 12-6 p.m., waiting parents to bring their children around. If it is raining, Puzzuoli does the book cab on Thursdays. 

"I have a hodge podge of books - there's a lot of books at all sorts of levels," he said.

The books were donated by teachers, parents and even some children. Some of them also come from Puzzuoli's own classroom. 

Kids come every week, but in order to get another book and a ride in the book cab, they must bring their books back and say they have read it, Puzzuoli said.

There is no check out process to keep track of the books. 

"I don't want any paperwork," he said. "I don't want them to feel there is something attached, like a book report. It's simply to get books out in circulation and hopefully, that will work. I was afraid if there was any connection to a book report that the kids wouldn't come."

Puzzuoli said the book cab also gives him something to do during the summer - and it's good exercise.

"It's my day not to go to the gym," he said.

Puzzuoli is extremely proud of his bike cab and demonstrated all the bells and whistles to Patch. 

"This is the Mercedes Benz of all pedal cabs," he said.