MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE WISCONSIN FAMILY READ-IN'S FIRST BOOK PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EXTENSION.

PRODUCTION IS ALSO MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE WISCONSIN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION COUNCIL HELPING SCHOOLS WORK FOR WISCONSIN.

HI, I'M JONATHAN OVERBY.

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST BOOK ?

BOY, I DO !

IT WAS ABOUT LIGHT HOUSES.

AND I ASKED MY PARENTS TO READ THAT BOOK TO ME OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

TODAY, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR STORIES ABOUT CHILDREN GETTING THEIR FIRST BOOKS.

THESE STORIES ARE THE RESULT OF AN OUTREACH PROGRAM OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.

AND THIS PROGRAM IS ABOUT CELEBRATING THE RESULTS OF THAT EFFORT.

YOU SEE, WE BELIEVE THAT BOOKS ARE BUILDING BLOCKS TO LEARNING.

BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS, WE ARE DISTRIBUTING OVER 1,300 BOOKS FREE OF CHARGE, EVERY MONTH TO WISCONSIN CHILDREN.

WE'VE INVITED MENTORS TO READ TO THE CHILDREN ONCE EACH MONTH.

EACH TIME, THEY BRING A NEW BOOK TO READ TO THE CHILD.

WE HOPE, THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT THESE CHILDREN WILL REMEMBER WITH AWE THEIR FIRST BOOK, TOO.

OUR FIRST STORY SHOWS A MENTOR WORKING WITH A HEAD START CLASSROOM IN DARIEN, WISCONSIN.

WATCH THE SMILES OF THESE CHILDREN AS THEY RECEIVE THEIR FIRST BOOKS.

AND NOTE HOW THE BOOKS LOOK AT STORYTELLING IN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE SO THE CHILDREN CAN APPRECIATE THEIR OWN CULTURE AND THAT OF OTHERS, AS WELL.

IN THE HEAD START PROGRAM READING IS ONE OF THE BUILDING BLOCKS TO THE FOUNDATION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD FOR EACH CHILD.

WHEN A CHILD IS READ TO EVERY DAY THE ADULT IS MODELING A POSITIVE BEHAVIOR OF GOOD READING HABITS.

AND THAT CHILD WILL CREATE A HABIT OF LEARNING-- HOW TO LOOK FORWARD TO READING.

HE OR SHE DEVELOPS A LOVE FOR BOOKS AND IS EAGER TO BEGIN TO READ.

I LIKE TO LOOK AT BOOKS MYSELF.

A BALL, A DUMP TRUCK, A FROG... READING TO A CHILD IS FUN TO THE CHILDREN.

YOU CAN SEE THE EAGERNESS.

AND IF IT'S A FUNNY STORY, YOU CAN SEE THEIR REACTIONS.

AND IF IT'S A SAD STORY, TOO, YOU CAN SEE THEIR FACES.

SO, IT'S LIKE ALMOST ADVENTUROUS TO SEE THE SPARK IN THEIR EYES WHEN YOU'RE READING TO THEM.

TODAY, WE'RE READING THE STORY WITH MY BROTHER OR CON MI HERMANO.

ONE OF THE BOOKS FEATURED IN THE FIRST BOOK PROGRAM WAS WRITTEN IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

WHEN I READ A BOOK IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH IT INTRODUCES THE CHILDREN TO ANOTHER CULTURE AND TO ANOTHER LANGUAGE.

( reading in Spanish ) WE HAVE A CHILD IN OUR CLASSROOM THAT'S SPANISH.

IT GIVES HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HIS PEERS SPEAKING HIS OWN LANGUAGE AND SEEING THE VALUE THAT HE HAS IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE.

MY TEACHER READS TO ME IN SPANISH AND IN ENGLISH.

Myrna: WHEN WE READ A BOOK IN SPANISH, WE INCORPORATE ACTIVITIES.

WE CONTINUE TO LEARN-- SAYING THE DAYS OF THE WEEK... SUNDAY IS ?

DOMINGO.

MONDAY IS ?

LUNES.

READING JUST A START OF WHAT WE DO IN OUR DAILY ACTIVITY.

THEN WE GO ON AND DO AN ACTIVITY TO COLLABORATE WITH THE STORY.

WE GO ON AND MAKE BOOKS.

NOW WE'RE MAKING OUR OWN BOOK.

IS THIS AN AMIGO ?

JUST LIKE THE STORY.

I LIKE MY TEACHER WHEN SHE READS TO ME.

I LOVE READING TO CHILDREN.

I LOVE GIVING THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE READ TO THEM.

HE DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TIME... I SEE THE CHILDREN APPRECIATE IT.

AND IT'S A MOMENT THAT YOU CAN SEE THEIR MINDS ARE ALL CONNECTED TO YOU.

IT'S AS IF YOU HAVE THAT RHYTHM READING TO THEM.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I LOVE TO SEE IN THEIR EYES-- THE ENTHUSIASM OF LISTENING TO YOU READ TO THEM.

WITH MY BROTHER-- CON MI HERMANO.

WE READ TO THE CHILDREN EVERY DAY.

BUT WITH THE FIRST BOOK PROGRAM, THIS HAS BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE BOOKS TO CHILDREN THAT ARE NOT FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO BUY BOOKS.

( cheering ) I LIKE BOOKS.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE FATHER OF DR.

SEUSS WAS A ZOOKEEPER ?

AND HE TOOK HIS SON TO THE ZOO MANY, MANY TIMES.

AND WHEN THEY WOULD GET HOME HE WOULD LET HIS SON DRAW PICTURES OF ANIMALS ON THE WALLS OF HIS ROOM !

EDUCATORS TELL US THAT WHEN WE PROVIDE ACTIVITIES THAT ENRICH THE EXPERIENCES OF OUR CHILDREN WE ENHANCE THE LEARNING PROCESS.

IN OUR NEXT STORY, FROM WISCONSIN RAPIDS THERE'S A VERY SPECIAL PLACE WHICH TEACHES CHILDREN AND PARENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY.

PARENT'S PLACE IS THE NEW FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER IN WISCONSIN RAPIDS.

WE HAVE CLASSES GOING ON HERE.

WE HAVE A WARM LINE-- A 24-HOUR WARM LINE HERE THAT CAN ANSWER PARENT'S QUESTIONS.

WE WANTED PARENT'S PLACE TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND PARENT'S PLACE IS A PLACE FOR ALL PARENTS TO COME IN AND INTERACT WITH NOT ONLY THEIR CHILDREN BUT TALK WITH OTHER PARENTS.

THEY MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE.

I THINK IT'S A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN REALLY STRENGTHEN THEIR PARENTING SKILLS.

"LEARN THROUGH PLAY" IS A WEEKLY THING THAT WE HAVE HERE.

THE PARENTS INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

"LEARN THROUGH PLAY" HAS REALLY USED THE FIRST BOOK PROGRAM BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A STORY TIME.

IT HAS JUST WORKED OUT WONDERFUL.

THE PARENTS LOVE IT.

THE KIDS LOVE IT.

WE'VE BEEN HAPPY HAVING THE PROGRAM HERE AT PARENT'S PLACE.

THE STORY THAT WE'RE GOING TO READ TODAY IS THE COW THAT WENT OINK, BY BERNARD MOST.

THERE WAS ONCE A COW THAT WENT OINK.

THE COWS THAT WENT MOO LAUGHED AT THE COW THAT WENT OINK.

THE OTHER ANIMALS ON THE FARM LAUGHED AT HER, TOO.

THE COW THAT WENT OINK WAS VERY SAD... EACH BOOK HAS A SUGGESTED CRAFT SO WE TRY TO INTERTWINE THE TWO THINGS TOGETHER.

NO !

HE'S EATING THE PAINT !

I THINK ALL YOUR COWS DESERVE BLUE RIBBONS.

I THINK THEY WILL JUST TAKE THAT HOME AND BE SO PROUD OF IT.

IT REALLY BUILDS THESE CHILDREN'S SELF-ESTEEM AS FAR AS THAT THEY DID THIS PROJECT AND THEY WERE SO PROUD OF IT.

Boy: I PAINTED MY PICTURE.

Rita Janz: OUR ORGANIZATION-- H.C.E.

WHICH IS HOME AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF THIS PROGRAM.

WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND WE JUST CAME TO HELP READ AND INTERACT WITH THE KIDS AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP.

Joelle Stolz: I ENJOY READING, MYSELF.

I READ A LOT TO MY CHILDREN.

I'M READING TO MY GRANDCHILDREN WHEN THEY'RE AROUND.

SO, I THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD PROGRAM AND I ENJOY COMING HERE AND READING AND HELPING THE OTHER CHILDREN GET TO KNOW BOOKS.

AND THE PIG SAID, "OINK, HA" AND "MOO, HA..." I TALKED TO SOME OF THE MOTHERS-- THE KIDS ARE REALLY ENJOYING IT.

THEY WANT THAT BOOK READ ALMOST EVERY NIGHT.

THEY GO PICK OUT A CERTAIN BOOK, LIKE THE GORILLA ONE AND NOW, THE COW THAT WENT OINK.

THEY REALLY LIKE BOTH OF THOSE BOOKS.

Donna: IT WAS A PIG THAT WENT "MOO."

WHAT A SURPRISE !

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I GET TO DO JUST WITH MY DAUGHTER.

SHE'S BEEN MORE APT TO READ BOOKS NOW.

SHE WANTS TO READ MORE.

WE GOT HER A LITTLE BACKPACK FULL OF BOOKS NOW.

SO, WHEN SHE WANTS HER STORIES SHE BRINGS OUT THE WHOLE BAG.

IT'S KIND OF NEAT.

Brenda Dickson: IT'S GOOD FOR ME, TOO.

I CAN HEAR THE LADIES READ THE BOOKS WITH EXPRESSION.

IT CAN TEACH A PARENT HOW TO READ THE BOOK AT HOME TO THE KIDS.

GO AHEAD AND MAKE ALL THOSE SILLY NOISES AND ALL THE SILLY LAUGHING.

IT'S VERY HARD TO BE SAYING A COW IS SAYING OINK AND A PIG IS SAYING MOO.

THE BOOKS THAT THE FIRST BOOK PROGRAM HAS PICKED SO FAR ARE JUST EXCELLENT.

TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE BOOK HOME IS JUST A REALLY NICE START FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN TO LIKE BOOKS AND READ BOOKS.

Jonathan: RECENT STUDIES SHOW THAT IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START READING EVEN IF A BOOK IS ONLY ONE PAGE.

OUR NEXT STORY TAKES US TO TEDDY BEAR DAY CARE CENTER IN BLACK RIVER FALLS WHERE WE SEE YOUNG CHILDREN JUST STARTING TO READ.

GOOD NIGHT, GORILLA IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES.

♪ HE'S GOT ARMS LIKE LEGS... ♪ GOOD NIGHT, GORILLA.

♪ HE'S GOT HANDS ON HIS FEET... ♪ GOOD NIGHT, GORILLA.

♪ HE'S GOT A NOSE... ♪ GOOD NIGHT, GORILLA.

♪ HE'S GOT A TENDENCY TO OVER EAT... ♪ MY NAME IS BETH BUE.

I LIVE IN BLACK RIVER FALLS.

I OWN THE TEDDY BEAR DAY CARE CENTER.

I JUST THINK THE FIRST BOOK PROGRAM IS REALLY GREAT-- TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THESE CHILDREN THESE BOOKS.

I MADE A FLANNEL BOARD STORY OF GOOD NIGHT, GORILLA.

WE HAVE A GORILLA... AND THE ZOOKEEPER.

MY GOAL IS TO INTRODUCE THE CHILDREN TO MORE NEWER BOOKS.

WHAT ARE ALL THESE ANIMALS DOING IN MY BEDROOM ?

SHE TOOK THEM BACK TO THE ZOO.

THEY LOVE THE BOOKS THAT COME OUT EVERY MONTH.

THE ARMADILLO... AFTER I READ THE BOOK THREE OR FOUR TIMES THEY PRETTY MUCH KNOW THE STORY AND THEY TAKE OVER.

THERE WAS THIS ZOOKEEPER AND THE GORILLA TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF HIS POCKET.

THEN HE UNLOCKED ALL THE ANIMALS AND FOLLOWED THE ZOOKEEPER HOME.

ALL OF THE ANIMALS CRAWL IN BED.

AND THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE WOKE UP AND SHOUTED, "WHERE DID ALL THESE ANIMALS COME FROM ?"

AND TOOK THEM BACK TO THE ZOO AND PUT THEM IN THEIR CAGES.

AND WHEN SHE WENT BACK HOME, A GORILLA WAS FOLLOWING HER.

Beth: IT WAS A FANTASTIC BOOK-- REALLY NICE PICTURES, REALLY NICE ANIMAL PICTURES.

GOOD NIGHT, LION.

WHAT'S A LION SAY ?

All: ROAR !

REALLY LOUD.

ROAR !

I'VE SEEN THAT THEY'RE MORE INTERESTED IN BOOKS.

THEY DO WANT ME TO READ MORE.

WE HAVE A STORY TIME.

BUT NOW, THEY'LL COME DURING THE DAY AND SAY, "WILL YOU READ THIS BOOK TO ME ?"

I SEE THAT DIFFERENCE.

( snores ) SHH... THE GORILLA IS SOUND ASLEEP.

Children: GOOD NIGHT, GORILLA.

NEXT, WE FEATURE ANOTHER HEAD START PROGRAM.

THIS TIME, IN A SOUTH MADISON NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE HEAD START PROGRAMS LIKE WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION BELIEVE THAT READING EARLY GIVES KIDS AN ADVANTAGE IN LIFE.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT PREPARING KIDS FOR A LIFETIME OF LEARNING.

Sue Busby: LET'S CLEAN UP.

WE HAVE A SPECIAL FRIEND TODAY WHO'S GOING TO READ A NEW STORY TO ALL OF YOU.

A BRAND NEW BOOK... MY NAME IS SUE BUSBY.

I'M A HEAD START TEACHER.

I'VE BEEN WITH HEAD START FOR 22 YEARS.

THE LADY IN THE RED SKIRT... HEAD START IS USUALLY, BASICALLY, A LOW-INCOME PROGRAM.

IT'S A DIVERSE GROUP OF CHILDREN.

IT'S CHANGED A LITTLE BIT WITH W-2.

IT'S A LITTLE HARDER.

WE DON'T HAVE PARENT INVOLVEMENT ANYMORE BECAUSE THE PARENTS ARE OUT WORKING.

MY BABY.

Sue: A LOT OF THEM HAD BEEN HOME WITH MOM OR DAD.

AND NOW, MOM OR DAD HAVE TO BE OUT WORKING.

AND THEY DON'T HAVE THAT WHOLESOMENESS ANYMORE.

I AM READY.

I AM READY.

FOR A STORY.

FOR A STORY.

Sue: VOLUNTEERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

THE MORE VOLUNTEERS WE CAN GET THE BETTER BECAUSE WE CAN INDIVIDUALIZE WORKING WITH THE CHILDREN AND GIVE MORE OF OUR ATTENTION.

Theresa Johnson: I'M GOING TO READ A REALLY NICE STORY.

IT'S CALLED, A COLOR OF HIS OWN.

AND IT'S BY LEO LIONNI.

THAT'S THE AUTHOR.

WHAT DOES THE AUTHOR DO ?

DOES ANYBODY KNOW ?

I'M THERESA JOHNSON, FROM JANESVILLE.

AND I AM WITH THE ROCK COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION.

OKAY, WE'LL READ A COLOR OF HIS OWN.

RIGHT NOW, MY FUNCTION HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE FIRST BOOK PROGRAM.

THEY ARE VOLUNTEERS THAT GO IN MONTHLY TO READ BOOKS TO CHILDREN.

THEY GO THROUGH A TRAINING PROCESS SO THAT WHEN YOU'RE READING A STORY AND THERE ARE REPETITIVE THINGS THAT THEN THEY CHIME IN ON THE REPETITION.

WHEN YOU'RE READING, WHAT COLOR IS SOMETHING AND THE COLOR IS ON THE PICTURE, THEN THEY NAME THE COLOR SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE BOOK.

CAN YOU HELP ME OUT WITH THESE THINGS ?

PARROTS ARE WHAT COLOR ?

GREEN !

AND GOLDFISH ARE ?

RED !

RED.

DOES THAT LOOK RED ?

BLACK !

ELEPHANTS ARE ?

OR GRAY.

ELEPHANTS ARE GRAY.

AND PIGS ARE ?

PINK !

PIGS ARE PINK.

ALL ANIMALS HAVE A COLOR OF THEIR OWN.

EXCEPT FOR CHAMELEONS.

( children yelling out colors ) WHO KNOWS WHAT A CHAMELEON IS ?

AND THAT'S WHAT THE PROGRAM IS ALL ABOUT IS FOR CHILDREN WHO DON'T NORMALLY GET BOOKS-- THAT THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH GOOD LISTENERS AND HELPING ME WITH THE STORY.

NOW YOU KNOW WHAT THE REALLY EXCITING PART IS ?

YOU ALL GET TO TAKE THIS BOOK HOME WITH YOU.

EVERY ONE OF YOU GETS TO HAVE A BOOK.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME, THIS WAS FUN.

THERE YOU GO.

I'VE ENJOYED PROMOTING LITERACY AND ALSO REACHING CHILDREN SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN TO READ.

IT'S FUN TO READ TO LITTLE KIDS.

Sue: THIS GROUP OF CHILDREN LOVES STORIES.

WE TALK ABOUT THAT-- ASKING QUESTIONS.

SOME OF THEM ARE LIKE SPONGES.

YOU CAN NOT READ TO THEM ENOUGH.

THIS SHOW IS ABOUT A SUCCESS STORY.

BUT ALSO A STORY OF THANKS-- TO OUR MENTORS, TO OUR PARTNERS AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO SO GENEROUSLY GAVE THEIR MONEY TO BUY THESE BOOKS.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE FIRST BOOK PROGRAM IS UP AND RUNNING.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS YOU CAN GET INVOLVED.

SAUL LEVIN DECIDED HE WANTED TO GET INVOLVED IN HELPING KIDS TO READ.

HERE'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU MIGHT HELP KIDS LEARN TO READ.

♪ GET DOWN, GET DOWN, GET DOWN... ♪ Jonathan: WHEN YOU THINK OF FUN IN THE SUMMER WHAT COMES TO MIND ?

♪ GET DOWN, GET DOWN... ♪ ( reading ) I DON'T CARE IF THEY... SUMMER FUN.

READING A BOOK ?

READING IS FUN.

FOR KIDS AT THIS MADISON SUMMER CAMP, READING REALLY IS... FUN.

FUN.

FUN !

WE ALREADY COUNTED THIS ONE.

OH, YOU COUNTED IT ALL IN TOGETHER ?

OKAY, MY TURN.

YOU NEED MORE VOWELS.

YOU KNOW WHAT... ?

Jonathan: THESE KIDS ARE MEMBERS OF THE WEXFORD RIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER.

THEY SIGNED UP FOR PROJECT READ SUMMER CAMP.

THE IDEA: TO MAKE READING FUN BY PLAYING GAMES.

...14, 15, 16.

WE'VE GOT 16.

HOORAY !

THIS YEAR, WE TRIED TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT A LITTLE MORE CUTTING EDGE, I GUESS.

Jonathan: "CUTTING EDGE" IN THIS SUMMER CAMP MEANS KIDS ARE HAVING FUN AND LEARNING TO READ.

PART OF THE TIME RETIRED SENIOR VOLUNTEERS, LIKE SAUL LEVIN HELP WITH PHONICS.

THE REST OF THE TIME, THEY JOIN IN THE GAMES.

GAMES ARE TO GET THEM INVOLVED AND EXCITED BECAUSE IT'S PLAY, IT'S A GAME.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S LEARNING.

DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT "MACE" IS ?

YEAH, A CLUB.

RIGHT, VERY GOOD.

IT'S A CLUB.

IS THAT A THREE ?

IS IT ?

OR IS IT A DOUBLE ?

DOUBLE WORD SCORE.

SO, THAT'S SIX, SEVEN... Jonathan: WHY SET UP CAMP DURING THE SUMMER WHEN MOST KIDS WOULD RATHER PLAY OUTDOORS ?

Jim: THERE'S A FALL-OFF OF READING SKILL FROM WHEN THEY LEAVE AT THE END OF ONE SCHOOL YEAR TO WHEN THEY START AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

Jonathan: THE FALL-OFF IN READING SKILL HITS THE YOUNGEST STUDENTS THE HARDEST.

THE SOLUTION ?

MOTIVATE KIDS WITH THEIR FAVORITE ACTIVITY-- FUN !

MAKE SURE YOU PICK SOME VOWELS OUT THIS TIME.

CAN YOU READ THAT ONE ?

"CREW."

DO YOU KNOW WHAT A CREW IS ?

THIS IS "CREW."

HOW'S IT WORKING ?

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

Jonathan: OKAY, IT'S TOO SOON TO TELL HOW WELL THESE CAMPERS WILL READ AFTER THEY PACK UP AND GO HOME.

BUT PROJECT READ BENEFITS EVERYONE WHO JOINS IN THE GAME.

I WANTED TO FEEL AS IF I WAS DOING SOMETHING USEFUL AND SOMETHING THAT WAS OF SOME HELP TO SOMEBODY.

DO YOU KIDS SEE THAT WORD ?

"BARROW."

TAKE THREE MORE.

OKAY, YOUR TURN.

Jonathan: WHAT DO THE KIDS SAY ?

READING IS OKAY !

Jonathan: IF YOU WANT TO HELP, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL.

WE'LL TAKE YOUR NAME, NUMBER AND ADDRESS AND SEND YOU A PACKET OF INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS FROM WHICH YOU MIGHT CHOOSE.

IN THIS PACKET, YOU'LL ALSO FIND USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT READING TO CHILDREN.

THE PARENTS OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT WERE VERY ACTIVE IN HIS EARLY DEVELOPMENT.

THEY HUNG DOZENS OF PICTURES OF BUILDINGS AND CHURCHES ON HIS WALLS WHEN HE WAS JUST A CHILD.

♪ GOTTA KEEP ON GROWIN' ♪ ♪ YEAH, YEAH, YEAH ♪ ♪ GOTTA KEEP ON GROWIN' ♪ ♪ KEEP ON GROWIN' ♪ ♪ GOTTA KEEP ON GROWIN' ♪ ♪ YEAH, YEAH, YEAH... ♪ Jonathan: PLEASE, GET INVOLVED EARLY IN YOUR CHILD'S LIFE AND IN THE LIVES OF OTHER CHILDREN IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

THAT WAY, THE WALLS OF THEIR MIND WILL NEVER BE BLANK.

I'M JONATHAN OVERBY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ A STORY ?

YEAH !

YEAH !

OKAY.

THIS STORY IS CALLED CORDUROY AND IT'S BY DON FREEMAN.

CORDUROY IS A BEAR WHO ONCE LIVED IN THE TOY DEPARTMENT OF A BIG STORE.

DAY AFTER DAY, HE WAITED WITH ALL THE OTHER ANIMALS AND DOLLS FOR SOMEBODY TO COME ALONG AND TAKE HIM HOME.

THE STORE WAS ALWAYS FILLED WITH SHOPPERS BUYING ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

BUT NO ONE EVER SEEMED TO WANT A SMALL BEAR IN GREEN OVERALLS.

ONE MORNING, A YOUNG GIRL STOPPED AND LOOKED INTO CORDUROY'S BRIGHT EYES.

"OH, MOMMY," SHE SAID, "LOOK !"

"THERE'S THE VERY BEAR I'VE ALWAYS WANTED."

"NO, NOT TODAY," HER MOTHER SIGHED.

"I'VE SPENT TOO MUCH MONEY ALREADY.

"BESIDES, HE DOESN'T LOOK NEW.

HE'S LOST THE BUTTON TO ONE OF HIS SHOULDER STRAPS."

CORDUROY WATCHED THEM SADLY AS THEY WALKED AWAY.

"I DIDN'T KNOW I'D LOST A BUTTON" HE SAID TO HIMSELF.

"TONIGHT, I'LL GO AND SEE IF I CAN FIND IT."

AND SUDDENLY, HE FELT THE FLOOR MOVING UNDER HIM.

QUITE BY ACCIDENT, HE HAD STEPPED ONTO AN ESCALATOR.

AND UP HE WENT.

"COULD THIS BE A MOUNTAIN ?"

HE WONDERED.

"I THINK I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN."

HE STEPPED OFF THE ESCALATOR AND HAD REACHED THE NEXT FLOOR.

AND THERE, BEFORE HIS EYES, WAS THE MOST AMAZING SIGHT.

TABLES AND CHAIRS AND LAMPS AND SOFAS AND ROWS AND ROWS OF BEDS.

"THIS MUST BE A PALACE," CORDUROY GASPED.

"I GUESS I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO LIVE IN A PALACE."

HE WANDERED AROUND ADMIRING THE FURNITURE.

"THIS MUST BE A BED," HE SAID.

"I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SLEEP IN A BED."

AND UP HE CRAWLED ONTO A LARGE, THICK MATTRESS.

ALL AT ONCE, HE SAW SOMETHING SMALL AND ROUND.

"WHY, HERE'S MY BUTTON," HE CRIED.

AND HE TRIED TO PICK IT UP.

BUT LIKE ALL THE OTHER BUTTONS ON THE MATTRESS IT WAS TIED DOWN TIGHT.

HE YANKED AND PULLED WITH BOTH PAWS, UNTIL... POP !

OFF CAME THE BUTTON AND OFF THE MATTRESS, CORDUROY TOPPLED.

BANG !

INTO A TALL FLOOR LAMP.

OVER IT FELL WITH A CRASH... [Captioning services provided by Wisconsin Public Television.]

MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE WISCONSIN FAMILY READ-IN'S FIRST OK PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EXTENSION.

PRODUCTION IS ALSO MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE WISCONSIN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION COUNCIL HELPING SCHOOLS WORK FOR WISCONSIN.