WFPL Summer Reading Winners get Firetruck Rides to School

Six lucky readers from the Summer Reading Club at West Florida Public Libraries received rides to school from Escambia County Fire Rescue after being drawn from a pool of 72 children who read 50 hours or more over the summer.

The children participated in Summer Reading Club at libraries across Escambia County. Escambia County firefighters picked each child up at their home and took them to school. After the ride, each child went up in the bucket with firefighters and then enjoyed a fire safety presentation with their classmates.

The winners were:

• Ten-year-old Gabriella Minchell, who rode to Ferry Pass Elementary School on Sept. 29. She said her favorite book from her summer reading was the Goosebumps book “Planet of the Lawn Gnomes”.
• Eleven-year-old Peniel Otabil, who rode to Ransom Middle School on Oct. 4. He said he wanted everyone to know that there don’t have to be contests or prizes involved to enjoy reading.
• Eight-year-old Abigail Corliss, who rode to Tryon Branch Library on Oct. 6. Corliss, who is homeschooled, enjoyed a special story time and fire safety presentation.
• Eleven-year-old Ethan Tallman, who rode to Brown Barge Middle School on Oct. 11. He and his brothers participated in Summer Reading Club as a family.
• Eleven-year-old Kyle Crews, who rode to Montessori School of Pensacola on Oct. 18. He said one of his favorite books from the summer was “100 Cupboards” by N. D. Wilson.
• Eleven-year-old Lucia Mariano, who rode to Creative Learning Academy on Nov. 6. She said some of her favorite books included the “Ivy and Bean” series by Annie Barrows, the “Cam Jansen” series by David A. Adler and “The One and Only Ivan” by K.A. Applegate.

The rides were possible through cooperation with Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County School District, Montessori School of Pensacola and Creative Learning Academy.

Summer Reading Club numbers increased from 2,320 last year to 2,884 this year, with 1,248 children signing up during the first week.

For more information about this and other library events, call 850-436-5060 or go to MyWFPL.com. For up-to-date event announcements, like West Florida Public Libraries on Facebook and follow @MyWFPL on Twitter.