"We've all grew up with sitting on our mom and dad's laps listening to stories, and we kind of lose that nowadays with technology and our busy lives and stuff like that. So sometimes it's just nice to meet new people and to listen to great stories and just to [share] the magic of books."

 

 

 

Cooper's crossing school is one of the many places celebrating World Read Aloud Day, which was started 10 years ago by Litworld.

Students from Cooper's Crossing, got to take turns being read to by a Calgary Stampeder and other familiar faces like Mayor Peter Brown.

"I had a Stampeder come and read to me when I was in kindergarten too." -Ryan Sceviour

Defensive lineman for the Calgary Stampeders Ryan Sceviour, was more than happy to read to the kids for World Read Aloud Day, and expresses the impact it had when he was a kid "You know a couple of schools just kind of get lucky and I had a Stampeder come and read to me when I was in kindergarten too, so it was pretty cool and you know just kinda giving back just feels like a full circle and just helps out."

Sceviour said the kids picked out some "interesting" books for him, and he even ended up befriending the classes pet bunny.

The special guests, had half an hour with each of the younger grades before routating to the next class.

"I see lots of students who are afraid to read out loud." -Dwyane Russ

Fourth grade teacher Dwyane Russ, explains how having parents and other special guests reading to them can help the kids feel a bit better about reading on their own "Reading out loud can be scary, I mean even seeing in grade four, I see lots of students who are afraid to read out loud and stuff like that and I think it just gives them some confidence if they see their mom or dad reading and maybe they make a mistake. And it's okay to make a mistake it's okay to start somewhere and you know with more practice we get better."

Russ says, the kids get really excited for read aloud day and each year more people come to the event and it's a great way to bring the community together "We've all grew up with sitting on our mom and dad's laps listening to stories, and we kind of lose that nowadays with technology and our busy lives and stuff like that. So sometimes it's just nice to meet new people and to listen to great stories and just to [share] the magic of books."

As this years World Read Aloud Day comes to a close, the students can't wait to start a new chapter for next years event.

 

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