Monday morning Congressman Thomas Marino came to the Bethany Pre-School on Second St., Hughesville to read "Whose Shoes? A Shoe for Every Job" to the children for PA's 'One Book, Every Young Child Reading Initiative' which kicked off March 29.

HUGHESVILLE – Pennsylvania’s One Book, Every Young Child is an annual initiative to help pre-school children learn about the benefits of books and reading before entering first grade. This is the sixth year for this valuable program that highlights the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers.

This year’s book selection ‘Whose Shoes? A Shoe for Every Job’ is a non-fiction book by Stephen R. Swinburne for children ages 3 to 6. The program officially kicked off on March 29, 2011. Published in 2010, this engaging book explores various occupations using simple text and colorful photographs. ‘Whose Shoes? A Shoe for Every Job’ encourages young readers to guess which shoe matches which job.

Congressman Thomas Marino was asked to be a guest reader at the Bethany Pre-School on Second Street in Hughesville. He arrived Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. and read the Whose Shoes book to 18 children, ages 4 to 5.

Beth Mingle, instructor and director at the Pre-School said that Lycoming United Way made arrangements for him to come. They were delighted to have him, and the pre-school has served the community for over 20 years she said. “The PA One Book program is designed to encourage adults to read daily to children,” Mingle said. “The book engages them in quality interactive activities and experiences with books and stories.”

The program started in 2006 and has proven to be an ideal and valuable catalyst for early literacy development.

One Book, Every Young Child is made possible through a collaboration of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Please Touch Museum, State Museum of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Library Association, Pennsylvania Center for the Book, Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children, The Pennsylvania Child Care Association, PennSERVE, HSLC/Access PA and Verizon. This program is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by Pennsylvania’s Office of Commonwealth Libraries.

At the end of the reading of the book, Congressman Marino, Ms. Mingle, and learning assistant, Tammy Russell gave every child a copy of the book, ‘Whose Shoes? A Shoe for Every Job’. The other 2 pre-school classes that are held at Bethany Pre-School will also receive a copy of the book. “Every year the kids will get a new book,” added Mingle.