A room full of second graders lounge on colorful cushions, about to dive into their chosen chapter books. They reach for worn bookmarks guiding them to where they left off, and they get ready to take notes on the group discussion which is about to follow.
This is Book Club, the latest classroom activity that Whitney Alegria, second grade teacher at Washington Elementary School, has introduced to her students to plant a lifelong love of reading. “There’s magic in the fact that students can sit down and share something they’re excited about in a book,” Alegria said.
Teachers, like Alegria, librarians, and bookstore owners in Santa Barbara are increasingly imparting their passion for reading onto young students. With their own experience and knowledge to draw from, book-loving adults create cozy but lively reading spots where children discover new authors, books, and genres through activities like talks, clubs and summer programs.