Lawrence School hosted a special literary event—and special guests—during Friday’s “United States of Readers” event.
The event, part of a national literacy program from Scholastic, welcomed Massachusetts-based author Jerry Pallota to Holyoke. He spoke about his book, “Who Would Win: Lobster vs. Crab,” to an audience of 150 students, staff, and guests. All students attending the events at all six Holyoke elementary schools received a special edition copy of the book. Students will also have an opportunity to select nine other book titles of their choice throughout the year.
“Holyoke Public Schools is proud to be the fifth district in Massachusetts to launch the United States of Readers program, which is designed to enhance student literacy,” said Holyoke Superintendent Anthony Soto. “When students have access to engaging, high-interest books, they are more likely to read regularly. When students read more often, they are more likely to develop essential skills like fluency, phonemic awareness, and comprehension. Equally important, it fosters a lifelong passion for reading. We are grateful to our elected officials and Scholastic for making today’s event possible.”
"Learning how to read, and learning to enjoy reading, is a foundational part of a child's education," said Governor Maura Healey. "Today's event marks more than a celebration — it is an investment in the future of thousands of students across our state. By providing these books, the United States of Readers is fostering both a love for learning and creating opportunities for growth and success."
Additional guests in attendance at Lawrence Elementary included Congressman Richard Neil, State Representative Patricia Duffy, Mayor Joshua Garcia, and Scholastic’s Chief Impact Officer, Judy Newman.
The United States of Readers program, founded by Scholastic in 2021 and co-created with classroom teachers, is a results-driven literacy program that provides Pre-K-8th grade students attending under-resourced schools across America with access to choose their own books and help their teachers and families support literacy in school and at home. Scholastic is partnering with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the State Legislature to launch the United State of Readers in Massachusetts in support of Title I students.
The program features a curated selection of grade-level appropriate books from which students can choose two books, five times a year, for a total of ten books to add to their at-home libraries at no cost to families. In addition, teachers at the participating schools will each receive 25 books for their classroom library, further expanding book choice and access for the entire school community.