(L to R: Quentin “L.J.” Burns, Maia Jordan-Griffin, Michelle Steele, Justice Burwell, Sam Orlin, Brady Crane)
The first schoolwide Read-a-Thon is under way at Denny International Middle School – to raise money for books for Denny’s literacy program, and “to inspire reading among all Denny students,” according to Susan McLain, one of the organizers. And you can support them by using a special voucher at Barnes and Noble later this month (more on that in a moment). “Denny International Middle School needs books. We have a diverse population of kids who read in several different languages. We need books that are geared to each child’s reading level,” McLain explains. “We also need books that inspire kids to keep reading because the subject matter is interesting. Often, a child will pick up one book in a series, and then they are pulled into reading the entire series because the books are so compelling to them.”

(L to R: Sophie Strongman, Anne Jorgenson, Gavin Garcia Penor, Aisaya Corbray, Brady Crane, Nicole Roes, and Abdirisaq Diriye Abdi)
For the Read-a-Thon, Denny students are asking friends and family members for pledges, based on how many books or pages the students read up until December 3. You are also encouraged to shop at Barnes and Noble in Westwood Village on November 20 using the voucher found here, or you can use that same voucher number online between November 20 – November 27. Part of the proceeds from each purchase will benefit Denny International Middle School PTSA. And if you’d like to buy a book for Denny as part of this – here’s the wish list.