BOARDMAN — March is National Reading month, and members of the Boardman-Youngstown Kiwanis Club visited Boardman and Youngstown elementary schools on Friday, with nearly 1,200 books to deliver.

The program, according to Kiwanis member Tom Costello, is part of the new Eisenbraun Books For Kids Program. Kiwanis member Tom Eisenbraun died in 2021 and the program was named in his honor.

“He loved to work with kids,” Costello said.

Under the program, elementary school students from kindergarten through the third grade will receive a book every other month during the school year. The books are for them to keep and take home, perhaps even sharing reading time with a parent.

The initial delivery included four different books chosen by Boardman teachers at each grade level. They include: kindergarten, “You Can Read Pout Pout Fish”; first grade, “Baby Sloths”; second grade, “Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl”; and third grade, “The Chocolate Touch.”

The Boardman students will receive nearly 2,300 books worth more than $5,000 this school year under this program. Next year, the program will invest more than $12,000 to donate 5,600 books to young Spartans.

“We are so grateful to Boardman Kiwanis. Putting books directly into the hands of our students activates their imagination, instills their love of reading, and also gives our families the opportunity to spend quality time reading together at home,” said Boardman Director of Instruction Jared Cardillo.

Kiwanis members also delivered free books to all Youngstown elementary students. Kiwanis members will deliver a second grouping of books before the end of the school year.

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