Woodland students celebrate National Reading Day

Members of the Gurnee community spent part of Tuesday reading books to Woodland Intermediate School students to celebrate National Reading Day.

Among the readers was Warren Township High School's new principal, Michele Batola, who read her favorite children's book, "Iggy Peck, Architect" by Andrea Beaty. Batola was accompanied by the Warren Blue devil mascot, who sat with fourth- and fifth-grade students to listen to the story.

"I think this is absolutely great. The more encouragement to get kids to love reading is amazing," said Amy Werner, fifth-grade language arts teacher. "They love reading and picture books even at 10 and 11. Some of these kids never hear stories, even from their parents, so this is a great opportunity."

Children's books such as "The Mitten" by Jan Brett and "Read All About It" by Laura Bush and Jenna Bush were read by community volunteers who included police officers, firefighters, school principals, Gurnee Mayor Krysti Kovarik and Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran.

"It's pretty cool to celebrate a holiday not like other schools; like the elementary school doesn't get to do this stuff," fourth-grader Kyla Gewalt said after listening to Gurnee police officer Robert Lietz read "Diary of a Worm" by Doreen Cronin.