U-46 Book Bus gives kids summer reading choices
The U-46 Book Bus made a visit to McKinley Elementary School in Elgin Thursday. The Book Bus is a mobile giveaway book exchange for Elgin Area School U-46 students to get books, give books, and trade books.
The U-46 Transportation Department, bus drivers and members of the District U-46 Transportation Union (DUTU) sponsor the event.
Bus driver Paulette Walsh estimates there could be almost 5,000 books on the bus, which is only used for the program. There's something for every age group and kids can take as many as they like.
Frankie Lopez, 9, and friend Brian Hurtado, 12, just happened to be walking past the school and ended up walking off with some new books for their home libraries. Neither had seen the bus before.
Volunteer Emma Cork, 15, of Elgin has been helping with the program the past two years since the bus visited her school.
"I really love books. Books have been a comfort and a joy throughout my life. Why not put that into helping others?" she said with a smile.
To see where the Book Bus will be next, visit facebook.com/SchoolDistrictU46.