Kimberley Park First-Graders Head to Barnes & Noble and Come Back with Books to Read at Home This Summer

On May 1, first-graders at Kimberley Park Elementary School took a field trip to Barnes & Noble bookstore.

“Because reading is such an important skill that our first graders are working on, I was trying to figure out a way to get our students excited about reading,” said first-grade teacher Kathryn Gehrs. “Not only do I want them to learn to read, but I want them to love to read as well. This is why I created a GoFundMe project for a field trip to Barnes & Noble. What better way to get our students excited about reading than let them go to a book store and buy their very own brand new books?”  

People responded and donated more than $1,200.

“Thanks to generous donations by our volunteers, their family members and friends, as well as our family members and friends, the first-grade students at Kimberley Park Elementary school were able to take a field trip to Barnes & Noble,” Gehrs said. “There they were able to take a tour of the store, listen to some wonderful children's stories and get a sweet treat. The best part of the trip was that each child was able to purchase $20 worth of brand-new books for themselves and purchase a $5 book to donate to Brenner Children's Hospital.  

“Our goal was to make sure that all 45 of our first graders had books in their hands to read over the summer, and learn the importance of paying it forward in the process.  Not only do we want our students to learn to read, but we want them to love to read too.  

“Many of our students had never been to a book store before, so this was an exciting experience.  Thanks to the outstanding service of the employees at Barnes & Noble, as well as the kindness of the volunteers who helped the students pick out books, this is one field trip our students will never forget.”