Helena Education Foundation program gives first graders a free book to spark their interest in reading

A girl washes her hands in the dog's water dish and puts a dead fly in the ice cube tray.

How about a cat with good luck?

They are subjects of children's stories in books every first grader in the Helena School District recently received from the Helena Education Foundation.

For the fifth year in a row H.E.F. has put a new picture book in the hands of young people as a way to promote reading. This year, the total was nearly 700 books.

"H.E.F felt it was important we get books in the hand of kids," Kessler Principal Karen Stout-Suenram said at the school's open house Tuesday night.

She said getting a new book helps to increase the desire to read in young students. It gives young students an important message, she said: "My school thinks reading is important and they gave me a book to prove it."

Delaney Heppner, a Kessler first grader, quickly opened her book, "Bats at the Beach." It came wrapped with homemade paper created by fifth graders at the school.

The story is about a fun group of bats who roast bug-mallows, surf the sea, fly kites and play banjos for a party at the beach.

Heppner knows it is just a story and is quick to point it out.

"Real bats don't have a party at the beach," she said with a smirk.

She also is quick to make it clear that she would not want a bat for a pet. But older brother Jacob, 9, pipes in saying he would.

Heppner does, however, relate to playing on the beach, particularly in the sand. She and her brother go to the Oregon Coast every year to visit their father and enjoy building sandcastles, while they aren't too crazy about the taste of salt water.

Mom Patty Heppner said she reads a lot to the children at home and was thrilled to see her daughter receive a new book.

"Getting a new book is a good thing," she said. "It sparks an interest in her."

Kessler first-grader Daniel Carter-Scanlon received, "The Perfect Nest," a story about a cat searching for the perfect nest to lure the perfect bird in hopes of getting an egg for an omelet.

Carter-Scanlon said he liked the book because it was fun, even though it was strange.

He was excited to get a new book to add to his collection because he loves to read.

Fabulous First is sponsored by Beartooth NBC with support from the Montana Book Company. Hawthorne Principal Deborah Jacobsen organizes the event and over the years has really taken over the reins of the project, said Cindy Lewis, H.E.F. executive director.

Reporter Alana Listoe:

447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com