Mid-Prairie West Elementary is encouraging parents to read with their children in their inaugural One School One Book program.

Each kindergarten, third, and fourth grade student will be given the book “Stone Fox” this Monday and are encouraged to read a chapter each night with their parents for two weeks. The program kicks off with a literacy night Monday and will conclude with an event on March 9.

Fourth grade teacher Mo Gingerich explains the purpose of One School One Book, “Our hope is that these families will read this one chapter at night together, because we’re trying to build a community and a culture of readers since reading is so important. There’s a lot of research that indicates that kids being read to out loud has lasting benefits inside and outside of school.”

Mid-Prairie West students and families are encouraged to attend the literacy night from 5-7 p.m. Monday at the school. There were will be literacy activities and a free meal provided by the Mid-Prairie Student Boosters from 5-6:30 p.m.