Dozens attend youth reading event in Niles despite rain

Published 9:28 am Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT — Niles firefighter Dan Tackett reads to several dozen children and parents.

Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT — Niles firefighter Dan Tackett reads to several dozen children and parents.

Rain or sunshine, reading a book is a really good time.

At least that was the perspective for several dozen young children and their parents sat down in the Niles Riverfront Park Amphitheater for an hour of story time during Berrien RESA’s annual Read Around the County event Tuesday.

The event, which has costumed volunteers reading stories to children, is normally performed in Riverfront Park. Rain forced the Parents as Teachers program under the roof of the amphitheater.

For those who missed it, Read Around the County will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday on the bluff in St. Joseph across from Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library.

The first 100 children at each event receive a free book as part of an effort to promote early literacy skills.