Wyoming Reads program next Tuesday

The 28th annual Wyoming Reads celebration for first graders will take place on Tuesday, May 19, at the historic Hyart Theatre in Lovell.

Nearly 6,400 books will be distributed to first graders at Wyoming Reads literacy celebrations held in each of the state’s 23 counties next week. Each community’s celebration is organized locally by a combination of civic leaders, public libraries and school districts.

The local celebration in Lovell will feature story times with “celebrity” readers from the Lovell Middle School, a movie and the presentation of a fairytale about “The Good Queen Sue,” a tribute to Sue Jorgensen, in whose memory the event was established.

John Jorgensen established the Sue Jorgensen Library Foundation in 1996 and founded the Casper Cares, Casper Reads festival to honor his late wife’s commitment to children and reading. The celebration was expanded statewide as Wyoming Reads in 2006.

This  year’s event follows the state’s recent recognition of the non-profit’s significant impact on youth literacy in Wyoming. On March 5, 2024, Governor Gordon signed legislation to make every third Tuesday in May “Wyoming Reads Day,” an official state holiday. 

Lovell and Rocky Mountain first graders will arrive at the Hyart around 12:15 p.m., and after they are presented with popcorn, water and a fruit snack, students will enjoy the movie “Curious George.” After the Good Queen Sue tribute, books will be presented just before 2 p.m.

After the governor’s proclamation is read, students will be called to the stage by their librarians and will receive a hardback book of their very own given by their principals, donated by the Sue Jorgensen Library Foundation. 

Earlier this year, children had the opportunity to choose one of these 10 books:

• “Bear and the Three Goldilocks” by Patrick Horne

• “Behold the Octopus!” by Suzanne Slade

• “Bored Panda” by Mike Bender

• “Don’t Trust Fish” by Neil Sharpson

• “Luigi the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten” by Michelle Knudsen

• “Mr. Fox’s Game of ‘No!’” by David Larochelle

• “Old MacDonald Had a Farm E-I-UFO” by Zach von Zonk

• “Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme” by Betsy Bird

• “Wepa” by J de la Vega

• “Who’s Making All That NOISE?” by Darri Lunde

The most popular book chosen by the children was “Mr. Fox’s Game of ‘No!’”

Celebrity readers from LMS will read to each class. After books have been read the Rocky Mountain first graders will visit the public library, and Lovell Elementary first graders will return to school to blow bubbles on the grass field with the middle school students.

Partners in this year’s Wyoming Reads celebration include the Wyoming Community Foundation, the Rotary Club of Casper, Five Trails Rotary of Casper, the McMurry Foundation, the Tom and Helen Tonkin Foundation, the Natrona County Library, the Nicolaysen Art Museum and many more generous donors.

For more information on Wyoming Reads, visit wyomingreads.org.