Feature Stories
A good read brightens a dark world
UFT First Book events have now distributed more than 250,000 books across city
Jonathan Fickies
Kids browse through the stacks of books in the schoolyard at Abraham Lincoln HS in Coney Island.
Jonathan Fickies
Teachers Jaclyn Warner (left) of PS 255 and Samantha Bert of PS/MS 164 tote some of their selections at the Brooklyn event.
Alison Gendar
Sybrina Keane, a speech teacher at PS 57, picks up books at the Tito Puente Complex in Manhattan for her middle school students.
The UFT and its partners have distributed more than a quarter of a million free books to New York City children in need through First Book over the past three years. This school year alone — according to Anthony Harmon, an assistant to the president of the UFT and the union’s director of parent and community outreach — more than 140,000 books were given out.
“While the numbers are impressive, what sticks with you is the look on a child’s face when he or she has the ability to look through thousands of books and pick the one that speaks to them,” Harmon said. “You know when they have made that connection because they just sit down wherever they are and start reading. That’s what is so powerful about First Book, and why we are so pleased to be part of this effort.”
This spring, the union organized First Book events in East Harlem and Coney Island.
“I am looking for books that my students might not choose for themselves, but if they try it, they will find out they like it,” saidSybrina Keane from PS 57 as she scouted out her choices spread out at the Tito Puente Complex in Manhattan on May 14. “It is all about getting them reading and broadening their reading experience.”
UFT President Michael Mulgrew, who attended both events, could not have been happier with the turnout and results. “Nothing lights up a child’s face like seeing stacks and stacks of books,” he said. “And when they get to select their very own books, that helps build a love of reading.”
While some UFT members came out to find books for their students, others volunteered to set up the two events and then to help kids, parents and other teachers make selections.
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Jonathan Fickies
Youngsters waste no time reading the books they’ve chosen.
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Alison Gendar
Surrounded by stacks of books, a boy is immersed in his own special selection at the East Harlem event on May 14.
“Reading comprehension is applied in all components of learning,” said physical education teacher Joanne Carillo, the chapter leader at PS 186, who helped out at the June 4 event at Abraham Lincoln HS in Brooklyn. “The gift of a book is priceless for that reason, and if I can play a part in helping a child and other teachers get free books, I’m there!”