Kids adore having a guest, but they also absorb the volunteers' simple delight in the written word. They see good readers with good jobs. They equate it with success. Phillips used to tell them about his '72 convertible VW Beetle until he parted with the car years ago. But this is good information.
Kids make the connection and hear stories with a new relevance.
Hooking kids on reading remains a critical quest nationwide. A 1998 U.S. government report released by the National Institute for Literacy notes more than 90 million U.S. adults are functionally illiterate or near illiterate. The report estimates 44 million residents cannot read a newspaper or fill out a job application. The Big Sun Volunteer Center of Marion County is familiar with the problem. The center helps children and adults learn to read.