Lower Burrell author Tamara Girardi visits Highlands classrooms; Rotary and Lions gift books to students

A Lower Burrell author joined the Tarentum Lions Club and the Highlands Area Rotary on Tuesday to spark a passion for literacy in young students.

Kindergartners at Highlands Early Childhood Center were paid a visit by Tamara Girardi, author of “Why, Daddy? Why?,” who read aloud to the youngsters in the school’s library.

Each of the students received a copy of the colorful board book, illustrated by Nichola Cowdery, to take home, courtesy of the Rotarians and Lions.

“There’s nothing like going into a classroom of young children and experiencing their excitement for reading,” Girardi said. “It’s why authors and illustrators do what we do.”

The service groups donated a total of $1,500 to buy 176 copies of the book, which were purchased from Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont at a discounted rate.

Jody Shumaker, Lions president, said it was an important outreach for her club because they want to support and encourage children to enjoy reading.

“By selecting a local author, we can help one of our own and put books into the hands of those who can benefit most from them,” Shumaker said.

Girardi, a graduate of Valley High School, lived in Harrison for 13 years before recently moving to Lower Burrell.

She launched her literacy project in the spring by distributing nearly 250 copies of her book to students in New Kensington-Arnold School District and at Mary Queen of Apostles.

She is eager to expand the program to neighboring districts.

Highlands was the first, with Girardi speaking to classes about what it takes to be an author and answering questions.

Teachers received a 50-page educational packet with activities and supplemental resources for the book, including social-emotional learning and STEM exercises, Girardi said.

“It’s not every day students get a chance to read a book with the author who wrote it and then take a free copy of that book home,” Girardi said. “I hope that they will read the book over and over again with their families, an act that literacy experts have said for years has a huge impact on academic success for children.”