Kindergartners to Get Free Books

Thousands of kindergarten students will have no shortage of imagination this summer thanks to a program that will provide them with backpacks filled with books.

The "Richmond Kindergarten Library Initiative," will provide each child a backpack with three books and a schedule of summer reading events at the Richmond Library.

Beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, volunteers will stuff about 1,200 bags at the Richmond Library to distribute later to the students.

The initiative, which aims to bring books and literary resources to kindergarten classes, is a joint project of the East Bay Community Foundation, the Chamberlin Family Foundation, Bring Me A Book, and the West Contra Costa County Unified School District.

The program has thus far provided 49 classrooms with 1,470 books, and also offers reading workshops for parents, caregivers and teachers.

Bay City News