Several Thomas Jefferson High School students shared the love of reading with second-graders at Mark Twain Elementary.

The March 19 event, Read Around the World, was organized by TJHS Key Club members and the Federal Way Kiwanis.

“It’s wonderful to see the high school students return and share some of their excitement,” said Doug Rutherford, principal of Mark Twain Elementary.

The high school students, led by organizer Ji-eun Park, came to the elementary school with short plays for the students to read through and perform.

After the high schoolers helped the students read the different plays, each group of students recited the plays aloud to other groups.

The goal was to encourage reading. Several students shared their favorite books.

“My favorite book is ‘Click Clack Moon’,” said Francisco Robles, age 8. The story is about cows who write a letter to their farmer requesting blankets, he said.

Josue Medina loves “The Cat in the Hat.”

“He does crazy things. Thing One and Thing Two make such a mess,” he said.

The second-graders also each received a book from the Kiwanis.

Learn more

To learn more about Kiwanis, e-mail Ed Plumlee (noon club) at ed_plumlee@mac.com or Donavon Potter (morning club) at donavonf@msn.com.

To learn more about Key Club, contact Mike Ballinger at (253) 927-3757 or via e-mail at mikeballinger@juno.com.