Garland County Reads to kick off Tuesday

The fourth annual Garland County Reads initiative is set to hold its kickoff event of the 2019-20 school year Tuesday with revelry and reading “to celebrate literacy and our wonderful Garland County students with free food, games, giveaways and fun,” a news release said.

From 5-7 p.m. at the Hot Springs Farmers & Artisans Market, an expected crowd of 1,200 will come together to live out Garland County Reads’ motto of “A community that reads together grows together” during the free, public event.

The initiative is “a celebration of literacy through a collaboration of students across school districts in Garland County to read one book together. The collaboration is unique from any other literacy celebration across Arkansas, and is well-loved and generously supported by the Hot Springs community and area schools,” the release said.

Each year, a book is selected for k-6 elementary families and participating public schools to read simultaneously.

The event makes “reading a hot topic of discussion throughout the community,” the release said.

This year, Hot Springs, Lakeside, Fountain Lake, Jessieville, Cutter Morning Star and Mountain Pine school districts will all read Kate DiCamillo’s book “Because of Winn-Dixie.” The book “tells the tale of an inseparable bond between a girl and her beloved dog; the pair and their friendship unites the townspeople and helps her own troubled relationship with her father,” the release said.

During the event, the crowd will gather to listen to the first chapter of “Because of Winn-Dixie” be read aloud by community and school leaders and state partners in education.

There will also be games and booths sponsored by local community and literacy organizations. Each participating school district will also have a booth set up at the event.

At Tuesday’s event, students will be encouraged to read a chapter of the book with their parents, caregivers and siblings at home. At school, students will participate in activities, discussions and projects based on readings and lessons from the book.