First-grade students at South Elementary received a special gift this week thanks to a partnership between Greater Mankato Area United Way and Capstone. Each student was given a copy of The Kindness Booth, written by Laura K. Murray and illustrated by Andrea Boatta, as part of a literacy and character-building initiative.
Murray visited the South media center on Tuesday to read the book aloud, engage students in discussions about spreading kindness, and distribute copies for students to take home. Volunteers Lisa Witte of United Prairie Banks, and Matthew Knutson of MacLean Power Systems, also joined the event, to assist the author with her presentation and distribute a copy of the popular book to each of the first graders.
Students were especially excited to learn that the book’s illustrator included numerous dinosaur illustrations—a fun nod to the character Oliver’s love for dinosaurs.
This collaboration highlights the power of partnerships in fostering a love of reading and encouraging young learners to embrace kindness in their daily lives. Here are some photo highlights from the presentation and reading.
Shown above and below are some highlights from the United Way and Capstone book donation collaboration at South Elementary on Tuesday.
