Ron Frick (center), president/CEO of the Lycoming County United Way, celebrates the Pennsylvania One Book initiative with youngsters in the Penn College Children’s Learning Center’s “Butterfly” class. Frick read this year’s chosen book, “Arlo Draws an Octopus,” and supplemental book, “Octopants,” which was distributed by United Way to all the children. Joining the energetic group photo are childcare staff Rebecca L. Helminiak (left) and Candi Leisenring (right).
Ron Frick, president/CEO of the Lycoming County United Way, made a visit to the Butterfly preschool classroom at the Dunham Children’s Learning Center at Penn College on April 10 to celebrate the kickoff of the state Office of Commonwealth Libraries One Book Early Literacy Project.
This year’s book is “Arlo Draws an Octopus.” Written by Lori Mortensen and illustrated by Rob Sayegh Jr., “Arlo Draws an Octopus” encourages children to embrace their creativity and to see the beauty in their efforts – no matter the outcome.
Frick also read “Octopants,” by Suzy Senior, and provided a copy for each preschool child in the center.
“We are thrilled to have had Ron visit and donate such an extravagant number of books to our three preschool classrooms,” said Linda A. Reichert, director of the Children’s Learning Center. “He was excited to hear how much knowledge the Butterfly children had regarding the ocean and octopus.”
Frick leads his interested audience through the “Octopants” tale.
The Pennsylvania One Book project champions early childhood literacy and aims to foster a lifelong love of reading among Pennsylvania’s youngest learners. Each year, a different children’s picture book is chosen to be highlighted. The Pennsylvania One Book program is entering its 19th year promoting the value and benefits of reading early and often to preschoolers.
Inspired by the PA One Book program, Lycoming County United Way launched Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing across northcentral Pennsylvania. This initiative empowers parents and caregivers to build early literacy and language skills in young children through everyday moments. Through the initiative, the local United Way is working with partners to ensure that each licensed provider in the Early Learning Resource Center Region 7 territory – spanning Lycoming, Clinton and Tioga counties, as well as Sullivan and parts of Bradford County – receives this year’s PA One Book supplemental selection, “Octopants.”