‘Books and Badges’ Connects Montvale Police and Kids — Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press

MONTVALE—Before the school holidays kicked off a hot and humid summer (sorry, summer), Memorial Elementary School in Montvale hosted a cool and refreshing event on Tuesday, May 28, with members of the Montvale Police Department volunteering their time and talents to the Books and Badges program, designed to foster a love of reading among the youngest members of our community.

The initiative, in partnership with The Starfish Assignment, “an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to supporting police officers in their service to their communities,” saw the donation of 200 books for the kindergarten and first graders. Officers not only read the books aloud, they also gave each student a personalized copy to take home.

Inside each book, The Starfish Assignment promises, is an ex libris sticker that reads: It’s a gift from the friends of child protection.

Pascack Press reports that the preschoolers enjoyed the whimsical tale of “If You Give a Pig a Pancake” (1998) by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond, while the first graders delved into the adventure-packed “Clark the Shark” (2013) by Bruce Hale and illustrated by Guy Francis.

(“Clark the Shark,” says the publisher, “celebrates exuberant enthusiasm—and knows when it’s time to tune in! A great choice for circle time or one-on-one sharing with your energetic little shark.” In “If You Give a Pig a Pancake,” “readers will enjoy the story of an easy-going little girl trying to keep up with the whims of a busy little pig.”

Both Library Media Specialist Megan Wolf and Police Captain Alisha Foley agree that the event was a huge success, allowing students to interact with officers in a positive and trusting environment. The children enjoyed a fun and educational experience that emphasized the importance of reading while building a sense of community.

Wolf told Foley afterward, “The kids are still talking about you! Hopefully we can do this again next year!”

The Starfish Assignment explains on its website: “These fun events encourage literacy and allow officers to connect with kids in their neighborhoods. Students get the chance to ask officers questions about their jobs and lives. The most popular question is, Do you really like donuts? But our personal favorite was, Are there zombies in Cleveland?”

The organization says: “The astute officer’s response? ‘Yes, and I think they’re playing football.'”

The Starfish Assignment states, “We do not dictate where our partners read, knowing that they know what is best for their communities.”

Donations are welcome.