"First Mike" Gregoire Reads to Rose Hill Kindergarteners

Gov. Chris Gregoire’s husband Mike Gregoire -- or “First Mike” as he is called -- joined the kindergarten class of teacher Kari Ely Thursday as part of a “Read for the Record” event.

The First Gentleman came to Kirkland to read to the kids as part of an early education campaign by the national group Jumpstart, which helps children develop language and literacy skills.

First Mike read the campaign’s official book Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney. Each student got to keep a copy of the book, courtesy of the Pearson Foundation, a non-profit group that sponsors innovative education programs.

The foundation also provided copies of the book for other pre-K and kindergarten classes around Lake Washington School District.

Gregoire also gave each student a “Trooper the First Dog” trading card, with information on the Gregoires’ Shiba Inu.

Redmond Mayor John Marchione also participated in the campaign, according to a Lake Washington School District press release, joining Monica Peter’s kindergarten class at Redmond Elementary.