Snuggling for a nightly tale is a critical literacy ritual that Denise Brown hopes to spread across the West Shore.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important to establish a routine of nightly reading so the child gains literacy, and the child becomes closer to parents,B次元官网网址� the former teacher said.

Brown is project leader for the new Westshore B次元官网网址�1000x5B次元官网网址� book recycling program B次元官网网址渇or the love of readingB次元官网网址�, based on successful similar programs in Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula. The program aims to also provide that connection between parent and child with early reading.

B次元官网网址淥ur goal is to ensure the children have the opportunity to read 1,000 books by the time theyB次元官网网址檙e five,B次元官网网址� she said.

Brown, after 35 years of teaching in the district, wonB次元官网网址檛 pinpoint a favourite book, but there is a top contender.

B次元官网网址�Good Night Moon, my son asked for it again and again and again when he was a baby,B次元官网网址� she said.

She wants to instill the healthy literacy level her son had in kids throughout the region. Reading at home teaches kids know how to sit, enjoy and be entertained by a story.

B次元官网网址淪ome kids come to school and they donB次元官网网址檛 have that. ItB次元官网网址檚 sad to see,B次元官网网址� she said.

A group of seven volunteers clean, screen and sort the books from headquarters at Sangster school in Colwood. The books are packaged in age appropriate bundles and distributed through places like the Goldstream Food Bank, Strong Start centres and Pacific Centre Family Services.

B次元官网网址淲herever families are in need of books, weB次元官网网址檙e going to get them there. B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檙e getting families who have books to share with families that donB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� she said.

Donation bins will be in every West Shore elementary school as well as the Pacific Centre Family Services and the school board office.

Books are bundled in age groups 0-2, 3-4 and 5-6.

B次元官网网址淭he earliest books are the hardest to find good ones of,B次元官网网址� she said.

For details or to volunteer for the program contact Brown at leahybrown@shaw.ca.