In our recent article featuring eighth-grade students at Ryan Gloyer Middle School, we learned about their delivering and reading aloud the children’s books they created in class to youngsters in the Seneca Valley preschool program.

Kayla Robinson, family and consumer sciences teacher at the school, collaborated with Angie Kotula, school librarian, during Robinson’s personal development class as students created children’s books to promote literacy. The book delivery was part of Read Across America Day.

All 600 eighth-graders at Ryan Gloyer will go through the class, where they divide into teams to create, construct and illustrate a children’s book.

A focus on literacy should be one of the top priorities in any school. Books are gateways into new territories, the past and sometimes other worlds. Whatever the subject matter may be, reading helps students harness and grow their curiosity about the world around them.

In having to construct every aspect of the book, the eighth-graders are pushing their critical thinking skills. It’s another example of the importance of the humanities.

“Literacy is so important, and not just for certain age ranges,” Robinson said. “This helps promote the importance of literacy. And they can see the impact the books make working with the preschoolers.”

This focus on literacy helps students become more capable adults with strong minds.

Along the same vein, the Rotary Club of Butler is hosting a “Luncheon for Literacy” on April 16 at Butler County Community College’s Founder’s Hall, 107 College Drive.

The event will feature special guest author Julie James (“Stitches” and “Paper Cranes”) along with food, raffles, a basket auction and music.

We commend efforts to promote literacy across the county. Everyone — children as well as adults — can, and do, benefit.

— CM