It was difficult

for Devon Newsted, 8, to choose a book from the hundreds of titles available

to her at Barnes and Noble in Fayetteville, but Bryan Watkins, 13, her

reading mentor for the second year, patiently made suggestions, pulling

out a variety of paperbacks for Devon to peruse.

The two youngsters

were among 120 Burch Elementary School and Flat Rock Middle School students

visiting the book store Thursday to enjoy a morning tour, story reading,

refreshments and select a complimentary book.

They are all

participants in an innovative program designed to enhance reading skills

for kindergarteners, first, second and third graders at Burch through

twice-weekly interaction with seventh and eighth grade middle schoolers

from Flat Rock.

According to

Sue McKuen, a counselor at Flat Rock, this is the third consecutive year

the two schools have engaged in the program, and the results are promising.

"Last year, Burch tracked the program and all the students' reading

levels went up," McKuen said, reporting on the scores of the K-3

students participating.

The mentors

are selected from interested seventh and eighth graders who exhibit leadership

traits and maintain B averages. They also must complete training sessions

prior to working with the students.

"It takes

a committment on the part of the middle schoolers," McKuen said,

because the students must meet with their students before their classes

begin.

Each session

follows the same format. "The middle schoolers take a game and a

book, pick up their students and meet in a common area. They will usually

read about 20 minutes, play a game and then participate in a large group

activity," McKuen explained. "The students read a lot of the

time, or they share back and forth with them, each reading a passage."

"They

use a lot of different approaches," McKuen noted. But the key objective

is the same, to encourage reading.

McKuen and

colleague Kristen Bogumill admit the program takes a lot of work, but

is well worth the effort and plenty of fun for the students and their

mentors.

Chante Whitley,

community relations manager for Fayetteville's Barnes and Noble said last

week's book party was the result of proceeds gathered from the store's

opening spring fund-raiser for the Fayette Literacy Action Committee.

The two schools visiting applied for and were approved for $1,000 in free

books for their students through the First Book program.