Columbia Elementary School students take home free books through 'Magic of Storytelling' campaign

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- At Columbia Elementary School Thursday, archetypal people Cougars were welcomed into the room by pounding paws with Principal Mike Rivard.

"Yes! Go store books!" Rivard told a student.

Their mean speechmaking country was transformed with balloons and streamers and, astir importantly, books for students.

"We're having the publication giveaway." Rivard said.

Through a concern with ABC30's genitor institution Disney, First Book and Educational Employees Credit Union, much than 2,200 books are being fixed to kids Pre-K to 2nd people successful the Fresno Unified School District.

The ngo is to cultivate the adjacent procreation of storytellers with the "Magic of Storytelling" campaign.

It tin besides assistance physique libraries for children who don't person books astatine home.

"This is conscionable an added positive truthful that much kids person much books successful their location room and they tin walk clip successful substance successful the evenings, weekends and passim the summer," Rivard said.

Each pupil was capable to stroll down tables filled with tales to instrumentality location the publication of their choice.

Alexander Avina, Elisa Barajas and Christopher Beltran were much than blessed to amusement disconnected their pick.

"I picked it due to the fact that I similar Frozen and this publication looked interesting," Elisa said.

As soon arsenic they sat down, students started turning pages.

Special visitors from ABC30, EECU, the schoolhouse territory and the schoolhouse committee of trustees spoke to the students astir their emotion of reading.

Then, it was clip to spark a small imaginativeness arsenic Action News Anchor Jessica Harrington work a communicative to the students.

As kids headed backmost to people with books successful hand, galore of them were already making plans for the evening ahead.

"Read it and work it for my bedtime story," Elisa said.

The escaped books volition beryllium handed retired to six schools successful the Edison High School portion to assistance dispersed the "Magic of Storytelling."

For quality updates, travel Jessica Harrington connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.