Vote for Your Favorite Book to be Donated to the Skokie Public Library's Summer reading Program

First Bank & Trust is asking the public to help choose which books to donate to children enrolled in the Skokie Public Library’s “Booking with a Buddy” summer reading program.

From May 1 to May 31, the public can vote for one of four books via an online poll on First Bank & Trust’s website. Whenever a book receives five votes, the bank will purchase it as a gift for a child who is enrolled in the program. To vote, please visit www.firstbt.com/bookbuddy.

The four books that the public can vote for are:

· You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very Short Scary Tales to Read Together, by Mary Ann Hoberman

· Biggest, Strongest, Fastest, by Steve Jenkins

· Mercy Watson to the Rescue, by Kate DiCamillo

· We are in a Book!, by Mo Willems

“First Bank & Trust is committed to promoting literacy in the communities we serve, and we believe fostering a love of reading is one of the most important things we can do for kids,” said Michael Yohanan, Assistant Vice President – Marketing at First Bank & Trust.

“Our goal is to receive at least 400 votes, which would allow us to purchase books for each child in the program,” Yohanan said. “We hope the public votes early and often to join us in our mission!”

Booking with a Buddy serves children entering first to third grade. During the five-week program, which runs from June 29 to July 29, children spend two hours each week reading with an older teenager or adult to help them maintain their reading skills throughout the summer.

About 80 children are selected for the program each year, and typically each child receives a free book to take home at the end of the program.

“We were thrilled when First Bank & Trust offered to donate books to our Booking with a Buddy Program,” said Carolyn Anthony, Director of the Skokie Public Library. “Having a book of your own is such a special treat for many of the kids who participate in the program, and we hope the gift fosters a lifetime love of reading.”

In addition to donating books to the Booking with a Buddy Program, First Bank & Trust is also a sponsor of the library’s general Summer Reading Program, which is open to anyone with a Skokie Library card. Participants who read at least five books between June 1 and July 31 receive a free T-shirt and are entered to win prizes.

This year, First Bank & Trust will be donating “Plant a Seed” bookmarks to each participant, which contain flower seeds that can be planted in the ground.

FIRST BANK & TRUST is a locally owned and managed community bank with a mission to be the most responsive and the most responsible bank in the communities we serve. We are dedicated to supporting individuals, privately-held and family-owned businesses and non-profits as they pursue their dreams. Our goal is to spur economic growth and development in Chicagoland, including the North Shore and the western suburbs. For more information about First Bank & Trust, visit www.firstbt.com.