'Book Fairies' Spread Joy Of Reading To Local School Kids

SHIRLEY, NY — Some magical "book fairies" have been busy at the John S. Hobart Elementary School in Shirley, sharing the joy of reading with young students.

The school recently received a special visit from The Book Fairies, a non-profit organization that donates books to children in less advantaged communities throughout the metropolitan New York area, district officials said.

At the event, each John S. Hobart Elementary School student had the opportunity to take home two free books.

“New books can cost an average of $11, which can be cost prohibitive,” said Grace Ryan, a second-grade teacher at the school who was instrumental organizing the event. “The Book Fairies provide a large selection of books to a lucky school for students to shop through,” she said.

She added that the elementary school was "blessed" to be one of just five schools visited by the Book Fairies this year.

All of The Book Fairies’ books are checked for condition and are age-appropriate, she said. “It’s an event that is truly a ‘gift of reading’ thanks to the generous donors that supply books, volunteers who sort them and the hard working staff of The Book Fairies. We are very appreciative,” Ryan added.

Amy Zaslansky, founder of The Book Fairies, explained that the program provides an opportunity for children to build up their home libraries and foster a love for literacy.

So far, in the organization's six years of operation, they have donated nearly 1.4 million books. The Book Fairies also paid a special visit to the William Floyd Learning Center last school year, district officials said.

Patch photo courtesy John S. Hobart Elementary School.