Peoria police start ‘Books and Badges' reading program
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The Peoria Police Department launched a new reading program called 'Books and Badges.'
The police department's neighborhood services unit partnered with the McClure Library for the program. An officer will read a book to the kids. There's also an opportunity for kids to talk about their favorite book and explore the library.
There will be five 'books and badges' throughout the summer until July 23. Resident officer Kylia Birris said she came up with the program to help encourage kids to read.
'So I'm just really wanting to encourage them to interact with police in good ways and also have fun and learn and, you know, hopefully I can help further their comprehension skills and, you know, they do well in school and take things that they learn here and take them home with them,' Birris said.
Rose Farrell with the library said reading throughout the summer is important.
'So we promote summer reading to help prevent the summer slide, which happens when kids aren't in school,' Farrell said. 'So over the summer they lose a lot of their reading skills, other skill sets that they would have in school. So summer reading really encourages to read throughout the summer so that they don't lose their knowledge and skill sets.'
The reading program is for kids in kindergarten through seventh grade.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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