A display of books to be gifted to children at the Ramona-Alessandro Elementary School on Friday, December 15, 2023 during a special gift giving event as part of the Gift a Child a Book campaign.
A display of books to be gifted to children at the Ramona-Alessandro Elementary School on Friday, December 15, 2023 during a special gift giving event as part of the Gift a Child a Book campaign. Credit: sbcounty.gov

Summary: First 5 San Bernardino, a non-profit organization that focuses on the early development of children under 5, has gifted 4,000 transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students from San Bernardino City Unified School District with a free book as part of its Gift a Kid a Book campaign. The initiative aims to encourage people to consider the gift of reading this holiday season, as literacy rates in young children have declined since the pandemic. The event was kicked off with a winter wonderland and a surprise visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Ellen Perrault

One hundred students at Ramona-Alessandro Elementary School were the first of 4,000 transitional kindergarten and kindergarteners from San Bernardino City Unified School District to be gifted a free book from First 5 San Bernardino as part of its Gift a Kid a Book campaign last Friday. 

According to First 5 data, literacy rates in young children have declined since the pandemic, and Gift a Kid a Book wants to encourage people to consider the gift of reading this holiday season.

First 5 San Bernardino, which focuses on the early development of children under 5, created a winter wonderland to kick off the book gifting. 

During the event, students at Ramona-Alessandro shared in a book reading of “Give a Mouse a Cookie,” a holiday sing along and a surprise visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

A winter wonderland was created to kick off the Gift a Kid a Book campaign  book gifting event for students at Ramona-Alessandro Elementary  School. (sbcounty.gov)

“We are passionate about the role early reading has in a child’s development, and since the season of giving is upon us, there is no better time than now to give back to our young school children,” said Karen Scott, executive director of First 5 San Bernardino. “Seeing the look of joy in their eyes when they receive their book is just as magical as the season. It gives me confidence that the work we are doing to encourage early reading is having an impact.”

Research studies show that 90 percent of a child’s brain develops by age 5, and healthy brain development is supported by reading at a young age.

Karen Scott, executive director of First 5 San Bernardino joined the gift giving event as part of the Gift a Child a Book campaign at Ramona-Alessandro Elementary  School on Friday, December 15, 2023. (sbcounty.gov)

“To have the support of local community organizations like First 5 San Bernardino means everything,” said Teresa Hopkins, principal of Ramona-Alessandro Elementary School. “Our passion is helping these students develop and grow up to enjoy learning, so donations like these make us feel like a little bit of the weight is taken off our shoulders.

Ramona-Alessandro Elementary School principal Teresa Hopkins celebrates with the children during a gift giving event as part of the Gift a Child a Book campaign at Ramona-Alessandro Elementary  School on Friday, December 15, 2023. (sbcounty.gov)

The surprise of Santa and Mrs. Claus handing out books made today magical for our students … they will remember this day for a long time!”

Visit first5sanbernardino.org/reading for lists of book recommendations by age, a free downloadable bookmark and more important reading resources.

Ellen Perrault is retired and works occasionally as a freelance writer who contributes to publications in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Her primary focus is preparing/reformatting press releases and other public announcements–both municipal and nonprofit–for publication.