Harrington Reads

Note: This is a little different than my usual column. This event celebrates literacy and a love of reading and I'm so thrilled to showcase the program and these amazing young readers. Enjoy. 

"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free."

--Frederick Douglass

Reading is everything, right? I mean, who doesn't want to read? Even if it's just the comics or the sports scores, words will give you the world. You can choose what to know, what to learn, where to go, and how to get there, all on a trip to a library or a bookstore. I much prefer a library, if we're being honest. I am a huge fan of libraries. Literally, how do you not love a building that is dedicated to housing and loaning out thousands of books? The place that has staff who will help you look up anything you want to know. Oh, feel like a watching something? Ya, they have DVDs too. Blockbuster has gone the way of the Dodo bird, and Netflix rules the world on movies, but you can still go to the library; they have all the good ones, even the old black and white films that the online guys never bother with. Feel like catching up on the news? They have real black and white printed newspapers. They keep them on these cool wooden posts, or at least they used to. The library here in Marblehead even has a fireplace, with cozy chairs where you can sit and read the paper on a grey rainy day. What's better than that?

It all starts with the magic of reading, in elementary schools. I learned to read pretty early, at least according to my mother, who liked to brag that I was always "Sitting around with my nose in a book." Oh, the humanity, a child that read. The thing is, I don't remember learning how to read. I went to school, and they taught stuff, and there were snacks and lunch, and somehow, along the way, I learned to read. Thank you Mrs.Cashman, for all you did. I barely remember Dot, Jim, and their dog Tag, but along the way, I not only learned to read, I learned to love reading, and that is quite something.

This past week, I was lucky enough to spend some time with some young readers (and one author, who at ten years old, has already published a book) at Harrington Elementary School in Lynn MA. First, can I just say, how cool it is to be in a room full of kids who love to read? Because it’s literally everything to see that spark, to hear kids talk about their favorite books, the stories that speak to them and the characters that leap off the page and become part of their lives. It’s nothing short of amazing.

The dedicated educators at Harrington really get into this celebration of books and literacy. Librarian Carol Shutzer told me the event began in 2003 and has grown each year. Teachers dress up as their favorite characters from books that go all the way from Dr. Seuss to J.K. Rowling. Harrington has hosted police chiefs, military officers, governors present and past, and even players from the Patriots. When it comes to books and children, everyone wants in on the fun. Shutzer explained, "We are attempting to make literacy come alive, to make reading exciting." No question about it, she and the team at Harrington have not only met that standard but exceeded it.

 I was met at the door by a student at Harrington who escorted me to the library, and patiently answered my questions about the event and what it was like to be a part of hosting so many visitors. Once I got to the library, I was given a classroom assignment and a selection of books. Another student walked me from the library to my classroom, and there, waiting for me were a group of kids who were engaged, who were articulate, and who knew what they liked. Sure, I got to read a book but even better than that were all the questions after. Each reader is supposed to talk about what they do and how reading influenced their lives. Easy for a writer, because you can’t be a good writer unless you are a good reader, right? 

The thing is, I think we underestimate kids. Reading logs and book reports? No, it’s about more than that. They want to learn, they want to read, they want to know so much, about…so much! It's incredible to see. The readers that take part are mostly community leaders, media professionals, law enforcement, and others and it's a perfect mix, curated expertly by Shutzer and her colleagues. The kids get to share a book with someone they may only have seen on the news or in a police car or fire truck in their neighborhood and a connection is formed. You want to connect with someone? Talk about a book you’ve read. Share an experience about what you do and relate back to reading. Trust me; it’s a bond that will continue beyond the last page of the story.