Here's what's in book bags 650 Columbia Public Schools students are receiving

First- and second-graders at five elementary schools in Columbia Public Schools this week are receiving book bags containing four books, with a coupon for another free book.

The book giveaway is part of Read Across Columbia. EquipmentShare teamed up with Heart of Missouri United Way to provide the 650 book bags, with EquipmentShare pitching in $15,000.

It's the second year of the event.

Daniel Boone Regional Library provided a coupon for a free book from the library in each backpack.

First-graders at Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School's media center on Wednesday were first greeted by Superintendent Brian Yearwood. Asking how many of them enjoyed reading, all their hands shot up.

"Columbia Public Schools is very vested in literacy," Yearwood said. "Literacy is the pathway to success."

The other elementary schools receiving the backpacks are Blue Ridge, Benton, Derby Ridge and Parkade.

Meg Judy, EquipmentShare spokeswoman, told the students what they would receive.

"Is this the greatest day ever, or what?" she asked to positive response.

Reading is fun and it will help them throughout their lives, she said.

"Guess what you get to do for the rest of your lives?" Judy asked the students.

The enthusiastic response came from most of the students: "Read!"

The books are:

• "We Are Water Protectors" by Michaela Goade;

• "A Place Inside of Me" by Zetta Elliott;

• "Whoosh" by Chris Barton; and

• "Lift" by Min Le and David Santat. (Le is one of the authors at Unbound Book Festival this weekend).

The books were purchased through Peace Nook, a local non-for-profit bookstore.

The schools were chosen based on the percentage of students qualifying for free- or reduced-price meals and also third-grade reading proficiency scores, said Andrew Grabau, executive director of Heart of Missouri United Way.

"This is a program that really excited the community about literacy," Grabau said.

It's a partnership among United Way, EquipmentShare, CPS, the Daniel Boone Regional Library and the University of Missouri College of Education, he said.

"Literacy is the key to academic success," he said.

Roger McKinney is the education reporter for the Tribune. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: First- and second-graders at five CPS schools taking books home