Wednesday, July 03, 2013

Grand Forks AFB youth takes 8th place in AF-wide literacy program

by Airman 1st Class Ashley Nicole Taylor
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs


7/3/2013 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- A Grand Forks AFB youth has been named one of the top 25 readers in the Air Force.

Isabell Taylor, 6, daughter of Master Sgt. Jessica Taylor of the 319th Air Base Wing Legal Office, and Tech. Sgt. Ray Taylor of the 319th Civil Engineer Squadron, earned an 8th place finish in the "One Page at a Time Program."

The Air Force created the program to promote literacy to today's youth. The free program is for children in kindergarten through 8th grade and it runs from November to March each year.

Every book read is logged and turned in to the base library or youth center and prizes are given out with each title.

Isabell, one of more than 2,100 kids worldwide who participated this year, read a total of 199 books, earning her a Kindle Fire and a $10 Amazon gift card.

"We're so proud of her," said Isabell's mother. "At night I would read with her, but she loves reading anyway, so it was easy."

Isabell said her new Kindle Fire makes reading easy and convenient.

"I like reading because it makes me a lot smarter," said Isabell. "My favorite book is "Cat in the Hat," by Dr. Seuss because I like that it rhymes and my favorite animal is a cat."

Youth Center staff members said they would like to see this program expand in the years to come.

"The One Page at a Time Program is a great program with guaranteed prizes for participation," said Stephanie Pfeiff, school age program clerk. "I would love to see greater enrollment in the following years. The kids on base are reading for school already, so all they have to do is turn in logs of what they are reading."

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