Reading Just for the Fun of It

When school was out for the week and other pupils were heading home, fourth-graders at Washington Elementary in Montebello stayed for more. They brought sleeping bags and settled down for a Friday night of fun and books in the fourth annual read-in. Eager readers in the top photo are in Gloria Calzada’s class. The children devoured a variety of books, left, from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m., with frequent breaks for snacks, exercise and a raffle of books and T-shirts.

During one of the exercise breaks, Selina De Leon, 10, right, scrunches up her face as part of a relaxation technique. “I think (the read-in is) the best thing I ever had in school,” she said. “I’ll probably read five books tonight.”

Becky Orona, a teacher for 21 years, said the event was designed to promote the love of reading. The children spent the night at the school.