Wisconsin Bookworms™

Research has found that children’s early experience with written language (including books) provides essential foundation for all their literacy learning. The
Wisconsin Bookworms™ program provides free books, activities and “reading buddies” to thousands of kids who wouldn’t otherwise have book of their own. The project is a collaboration of the Wisconsin Association for Home and Community Education, UW-Extension Family Living Programs and Head Start.

Columbia County has 234 children enrolled in the Wisconsin Bookworms™ program for 2010-2011. Thirty-five Columbia County Association for Home and Community Education (CCAHCE) members and friends of CCAHCE volunteer to read to the children in the classrooms eight times a year. The volunteers leave a copy of each book with every child in the classroom. Not only is each child receiving a high-quality children’s book, they are also benefiting by being read to by a Wisconsin Bookworms™ volunteer and are taking home activity sheets that promote use of the book by the entire family.

In 2009, Wisconsin Bookworms™ was recognized by the Chancellor’s Friend of Extension Award. In May 2010, Wisconsin Bookworms™ reached a milestone when it read it’s 500,000 book to young children.

Columbia County HCE appreciates the support of the following organizations who help make this program possible for children in our county:
Thrivent Financial
Alliant Energy
United Fund of Columbus
Many, many donations by individuals and groups

Columbia County HCE needs your support to keep this program available for children in our county. Each set of eight books costs $23 (increasing to $25 for the 2011-2012 reading year). Since the volunteers are currently reading to 234 children it means that HCE members will be working to raise over $5800 for the next year’s program. You can donate by contacting Patti Herman, Columbia County HCE Advisor, at 608-742-9686 or email patti.herman@ces.uwex.edu. You can also send your made out to Columbia County HCE (please note on the check that the donation is for Wisconsin Bookworms™) and send it to the Extension office, P.O. Box 567, Portage, WI 53901. Thank you for your support of this great program!