Reading and imagination let you travel anywhere you desire

Reading -- what a wonderful ability.

To travel to a distant land, live history, experience the future, meet people and visit new places, and learn of today, both at home and abroad, it's all possible by just reading the printed word.

Many of us are familiar with the RIF program -- reading is fundamental.

It's been a national effort to build reading skills from an early age, which helps foster literacy. Without the ability to communicate and to understand others, the world can be immensely more challenging.

Reading to our children is a rewarding experience.

Not only can our children benefit, but also the personal enrichment for us adults and the shared family time are priceless.

Today, computer games, television, the Internet, and the fast pace of our every minute filled lives have too easily replaced that pastime.

By taking a few moments each night to read to our children and have our children read to us results in time that can't be duplicated and memories that won't be replaced.

Sharing, as we have for the past years Dr. Seuss, the Bobsey Twins, the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Harry Potter, Lemony Snickett, R.L. Stine's Goosebumps, and the Lord of the Rings, and my favorite "Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport," among other works, both fact and fiction, with warm cocoa, mood music at low volume, and dim lights for our young listeners, have added to a connection that can be carried from home anywhere. That "snuggle time" is priceless.

That experience and the benefits it makes with our younger generations, of understanding, involvement, and imagination, have prompted many school systems across the country to emulate the quiet, family time of reading at home to partnering with programs and adult volunteers.

In a number of states, SMART, Start Making A Reader Today, has become the leading volunteer program dedicated to early literacy.

Geared to kindergarten through third-grade children who are at risk of low literacy and its associated negative outcomes, SMART pairs these children with caring adults, giving time and attention to them every day for a half hour.

SMART and similar programs also provide students with new books of their own each month, to read and share with their families and friends.

Our local civic clubs often help out as well, providing free books to our younger youth.

Our library has a strong reading program, enticing little ones to get involved with the power of the written word through a variety of presenters.

We've profiled this ongoing effort and some of those who have taken of their time to entertain and illustrate the magic of reading.

If you aren't familiar with the library programing, you can find regular notices in this paper, you can learn more online, and you can always visit the library. You'll be amazed at the plethora of the offerings.

When we are doing interviews for new reporters, we always visit the library. It's a great asset for our community.

All these programs work because of the adult attention, the sponsors, and the books themselves.

Each effort is dependent on the volunteerism and commitment of those involved, from the teachers and students to the librarians and their staffs to the sponsors and adult readers.

In addition to stopping by the library during story time, visits to school systems where retirees, business people, and dedicated parents show their appreciation and interest can make a real impact.

We are all teachers.

We can have a profoundly positive influence on our youth by reading and sharing, both at home, in the library, and at school.