Elementary Students Enjoy Build A Child's Library Event

March is National Reading Month and what better way to celebrate than to give books to children to read! Assistance League of Northern Virginia recently held a “Build a Child’s Library” book fair at a Title 1 school in Manassas for 500 Pre-K through 5th-grade students. Each student selected a book from the new books displayed on tables in the school library. Ten volunteers and the librarians helped students find books they would like. Each book selected was then stamped, and the students signed their names in the books to indicate it was theirs. Assistance League members inserted a special bookmark in each book, which the students liked.

Assistance League members love these book fairs because they can interact directly with the children they serve and can see their joy and gratitude. This event continued that tradition and the special moments began even before the book fair started. Two students announced the event over the PA system and thanked the nonprofit for its generosity.

During the book fair, a couple of students remembered that the organization had held a book fair at their school last year, and they still had their books. In another unique moment, members suggested an especially apt book title. A student had searched and searched, but couldn’t decide on a title. Finally, a member suggested a “Mia Mayhem” book and that caused her to stop. She exclaimed “My name is Mia!” and members said: “Then it’s the perfect book!” She happily showed the book to her teacher and others.

It was a great day for the students and Assistance League members!