Apr 25, 2015 By Terry Kish 2 min read

Keeping a young child focused for any length of time can be a challenge, but recently, guest reader Kathy Hanley captivated the students at Kings School Kids Care at First Bethel United Methodist Church.

Hanley was at the school on April 23 to read the 2015 PA One Book, Every Young Child selection, “Number One Sam.” Written by Pennsylvania author Greg Pizzoli, “Number One Sam” is a story about a racecar-driving dog who learns that there are some things more important than being number one.

Hanley is with the Southwest Regional Key’s Keystone STARS, a Pennsylvania program that focuses on continuous quality improvement for childcare facilities.

Kings School Kids Care day care director Lynda Pore said that Deacon Deb Dennick-Ream, who is in charge of children’s ministries at First Bethel, was instrumental in applying for the One Book guest reader program.

“We were thrilled to be chosen,” said Pore.

This is the 10th year for the One Book, Every Young Child program, which promotes the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers. The program emphasizes the importance of reading early and often to children, while engaging them in conversation and other activities around books.

Prior to Hanley’s visit, students at Kings School Kids Care listened to the story and helped make decorations that included some of the characters from “Number One Sam.”

According to the One Book, Every Young Child website, “One Book, Every Young Child information and program ideas have been developed by librarians and museum educators from across Pennsylvania to promote the value and benefits of reading early and often to preschoolers and to encourage family bonding through books and reading.”

For more information, visit www.paonebook.org.