GARNER, N.C. — Ten free books are enough to start a good at-home library for many children, and the WAKE Up and Read program is helping them to do that.

What You Need To Know

  •  WAKE Up and Read has provided over 5,000 free books for kids this year 

  •  Teachers say reading just 15 minutes a day in the summer goes a long way

  •  Students' reading skills were among the most affected during the pandemic

While the kids at Lincoln Heights Elementary School in Fuquay-Varina hear free, their teachers hear a chance at summer learning.

“The summer slide is real. It definitely happens," Alexis Jennings, who teaches third grade at Lincoln Heights, said. "But one way that we find that kids don’t have as much of a slide backwards is by having access to good, quality books.”

Jennings has been focused on finishing out another school year, but she can’t help but look ahead to the next.

As a mother herself, Jennings says the summer is a time for kids and parents to make real progress.

"So the summer is time for bonus learning, instead of just time to relax.”“Use that opportunity to go investigate and learn of those things that they don’t always get the opportunity at school because the curriculum is set," Jennings said. "So the summer is time for bonus learning, instead of just time to relax.”

Having a program like WAKE Up and Read, which provides students with books of their choice, inspires them to keep learning, Jennings says.

Reading has been important in getting students back on track after losing time from the pandemic.

“Our kids coming back, we still see a lot of those losses, especially in their phonics skills and their basic reading skills," Jennings said. "They just needed somebody to help, and those are the things that teachers learned.” 

By helping students build their at-home library, through graphic novels and chapter books, Jennings says the students can build a relationship that’s deeper than an electronic screen.

“It really helps build that love of reading because they are surrounded by books all the time," Jennings said. "When you’re surrounded by books, you’re going to want to pick them up and read.”

Heading back into the classroom after a successful trip to the library, you can see a buzz among the children, which is a positive sign for the months ahead for, Jennings said. 

“I love that I know what these titles are, and I can send them little messages over the summer, or to their parents and just check in like 'hey, so and so got this book and they were excited to read it,'" Jennings said. "I’d love to chat with them for a few minutes and just keep that excitement going."