Wyoming Reads celebrates literacy with area first graders

Sundance first graders celebrated the annual Wyoming Reads on Tuesday May 18, 2021 in the park at the Sundance pond. Area coordinator Bonnie Stahla, Youth Services Librarian at the Crook County Library in Sundance, explained to the group how Wyoming Reads came to be and how the Sue Jorgensen foundation was founded.

She then read the fairytale of “The Good Queen Sue” with the help of the students. A readers’ theater of “Pigs Make Me Sneeze” by Mo Willems was performed by Bonnie Stahla; Carrie Riley, Crook County Adult Services Librarian in Sundance; and Amanda Speidel, Sundance Elementary administrative para.

After sharing some giggles and laughs the Wyoming Reads book bags were handed out to each student, which included a hardback book with his/her name on a bookplate inside, a summer reading coloring book and a bookmark.

“It is so wonderful to see the students reading to each other. It makes my day!” said Stahla.

After sharing their books with one another, the students, teachers and librarians enjoyed a sack lunch in the gorgeous weather and finished the celebration with a cookie.

Partners in this year’s Wyoming Reads celebration include the Tonkin Foundation, McMurry Foundation, Casper Rotary Club, Natrona County Recreation Joint Powers Board, Friends of the Natrona County Library and a number of generous individuals.

John Jorgensen of Casper leads an extraordinary group of educators and civic leaders to present this annual literacy celebration for the state of Wyoming. John established the Sue Jorgensen Library Foundation in 1996 and founded the Casper Cares, Casper Reads celebration in 1999 to honor his late wife’s commitment to literacy and children.

“Sue was always very dedicated to children and to literacy,” says Jorgensen. “She believed that literacy was the foundation for everything in life.”

That vision continues to fuel this community literacy initiative.

The local event was renamed Wyoming Reads when it first expanded statewide in 2006. Through the fundraising efforts of the Sue Jorgensen Library Foundation, enough money has been raised again this year to give every first grade student in Wyoming their own hardcover book.