Book Fairies spread the magic of reading at Connolly Elementary School

Third, fourth and fifth graders squealed with excitement as they ran and skipped into the gymnasium at Connolly Elementary School. Their smiles grew wider as they got closer to an irresistible treat. But these young scholars weren’t craving sweet and savory candy; instead, they eagerly reached for books to feed their imaginations. 

With the help of the Book Fairies, a Freeport based not-for-profit dedicated to eradicating illiteracy, students took home one book that interested them. These fairies don’t work their magic by sprinkling pixie dust; instead, they offer hundreds of book choices ranging from “Diary of Wimpy Kid,” to Pokémon-themed books to the “Princess Pulverizer” series and more.

One student received the organization’s four millionth book, which included a golden ticket. 

Eileen Minogue, the organization’s executive director, was excited about handing out the four millionth book to the lucky winner, but said she has mixed feelings about the milestone. 

“It’s sad that we’re here. It’s sad that we need to provide books for our neighbors here on Long Island,” Minogue said. “But as long as the need is here, we’re going to be both ferrying around and doing what we need to do.”

It’s estimated that one in four New Yorkers is functionally illiterate. Adults who are functionally illiterate have some reading and writing ability, whereas a person who is illiterate has never been taught how to read or write, which impacts their ability to read road signs, pay their bills, and look over important medical documents. There’s one book for every 300 children in a lower income area. In the higher income areas, there are 13 books for every child.

“It’s not a level playing field for a lot of these kids,” Minogue said. “Some have zero books in their homes. If a parent is choosing between rent, or food on the table, they’re going for the necessities of life. The problem is if these kids don’t learn how to read, they’re going to be impacted for the rest of their lives.”

Kristen Schaefer, the district’s coordinator of English language arts, said in addition to its practical uses, reading can be a way to relax and offer stress relief. 

“Learning how to read is a skill that you take with you for your entire life,” Schaefer said. “But it’s so important that we teach our students that reading is not just something that you have to do, but that you should love to do.”

New York Times’ best-selling children’s author Nancy E. Krulik handed over the book from her “Princess Pulverizer” series, which had the golden ticket tucked inside. 

“Reading broadens our minds, and It allows kids to imagine,” Krulik said. “Kids should write, and they should write any story, they should write journals, they should do research because I think they will discover a lot about themselves.”