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Since 2013, Sno-Isle Libraries has sponsored a Third Graders Read Together program for students in Snohomish and Island counties. The program makes reading fun, prepares students to thrive in school, and sparks a lifelong love of learning, Sno-Isle Libraries said in a news release. The program features book nominees from the Washington Library Association’s OTTER Award, known for their motto, “books kids like, not books adults think kids should like.”
“Reading takes me places I’ve never been before,” said one third-grade student.
Since its start in 2013, the Third Graders Read Together program has grown from 29 to 87 participating schools, with an estimated 7,205 students engaged during the 2025-26 school year. The Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation helps support the program each year by providing OTTER books to schools and classrooms throughout Snohomish and Island counties, including 4,122 books this year.
“I am so grateful for this opportunity!” one teacher said. “Many of our kids do not have books at home and this program allows us to offer more copies of the ever-so-popular OTTER award nominee books.”
Third grade is considered a pivotal point in a child’s education because it marks a transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn,” the library system said. Voting for their favorite book was one of many exciting activities for participating third graders. The winning OTTER book for 2026 is Welcome to Scare School by Jarrett Lerner.
Sno-Isle Libraries also hosted two online author and illustrator events in 2026 for an estimated 3,260 students. Liz Garton Scanlon, author of the Bibsy Cross series, was one of the featured speakers. The other was Jarrett Lerner, author and illustrator of the Scare School Diaries series.
“I had so many students go out and buy journals so they could write their own graphic novels!” said one teacher.
Children can continue to build upon their momentum with Sno-Isle’s Summer Reading program, which encourages them to keep reading to maintain reading skills over the summer.
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