Opening a Book, Opening a World

There is something powerful about a child holding a book and hearing a story come to life. At Meadowlawn Elementary, that experience takes center stage each year during B.E.A.R. Week, which stands for Be Enthusiastic About Reading. It is a week dedicated to sparking curiosity, building connections, and helping students discover that reading is not just something you learn. It is something you can love.

Through support from your Community Foundation of White County, Meadowlawn has been able to bring published children’s authors into the school, giving students a rare opportunity to meet the people behind the stories. Students hear firsthand how books are created, ask questions about the writing process, and begin to see themselves as future storytellers.

But the impact of B.E.A.R. Week does not stop there.

Throughout the week, community members step into classrooms as guest readers, sharing not only books, but a piece of themselves. They talk about their roles in the community, what they care about, and why reading has mattered in their own lives. It is a simple act that carries a lasting message: learning does not end at school, and stories belong to everyone.

One of those guest readers this year was a member of Women Giving Together, Ruth Davis, who joined a first-grade classroom during library time. Sitting alongside students in Deanna Madson’s class, Ruth read The Wall by Eve Bunting, a moving picture book about a father and son visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in search of the grandfather the young boy never knew.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. honors more than 58,000 service members who lost their lives or remain missing in action. The polished black granite wall, engraved with names, invites visitors to reflect, remember, and connect across generations. For many, it is a deeply personal place of healing.

That same spirit will soon come closer to home. This June, White County will host The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the memorial that brings both the Wall and an educational exhibit to communities across the country. The exhibit offers an opportunity for reflection, learning, and a meaningful welcome home to those who served.

For the students in that classroom, the story became more than just a book. With an Army teddy bear in hand, Ruth introduced themes of service, remembrance, and family in a way that was both accessible and meaningful. It was a quiet but powerful reminder that stories can help us understand experiences far beyond our own.

B.E.A.R. Week also extends beyond the classroom walls. Families are invited to participate in a literacy night filled with hands-on activities, creating space for reading to be celebrated at home and in the community alike.

Each piece of the week, from author visits to guest readers to family engagement, works together to show students that reading is not just an academic skill. It is a gateway to imagination, empathy, and connection.

At the Community Foundation of White County, we believe that investing in opportunities like B.E.A.R. Week helps plant seeds that will grow for years to come. When a child meets an author, hears a story from a neighbor, or discovers a book they cannot put down, something begins to take root.

And sometimes, all it takes is one story to open a whole new world.