Bancroft Elementary Scores With Vikings’ Players
and Qwest Telecom Pioneers “Readers for Life” Program

Minnesota Vikings fullback Tony Richardson, defensive end Kenechi Udeze, wide receiver Bobby Wade, Sidney Rice and rookie cornerback Marcus McCauley joined Qwest volunteers Jan Swenson, Donna Ness, Karen Jothen, Mary Ann Neuman, Luann Chambliss, John.Stanoch, at Bancroft Elementary School for a special assembly and reading session on Sept. 11.

The Vikings players and members of the Qwest Pioneers’ Minnesota chapter kicked off the 2007-2008 Vikings Community Tuesday program and launched Qwest’s “Readers for Life” initiative.

Tuesdays are the only days of the week Vikings players have off during the season. But they’re not generally days of rest and relaxation; instead, many players volunteer in their communities.

“Readers for Life” is a Qwest Pioneers project to help public school teachers and reading specialists secure books for students struggling with reading. The program provides kids fun-to-read books that build vocabulary and strengthen reading skills.

Tuesday, Sept. 11 marks the first Vikings Community Tuesday for the 2007-2008 season.

WHERE: Bancroft Elementary School: 1315 E. 38th St., Minneapolis

		Joe Swenson, Jan Swenson and Donna Ness selected 727 books for $1200 To be presented to the children. They prepped the books with Pioneer stickers and bookmarks.
		Team members, Volunteers and Mascot
		Views of the Assembly
		Classroom Reads: Some of the classes were reading the book "Witches" that has been made into a children's movie

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Here is the list of a few of the books distributed:

"Huggly and the Books" by Tedd Arnold - about monsters from under the bed finding the joy of reading books - fun, not scary

"Fluffy's Lucky Day" by Kate McMullan - a story about a Guinea Pig and class learning about St. Patrick's Day from an Irish visitor.

"Diego Saves a Butterfly" adapted by Lara Bergen - Diego finds a cocoon from which a butterfly emerges and the hunt through the rain forest for the butterfly

"I Like Myself" by Hans Wilhelm - Explorers the differences in dogs (people) and how each have abilities

"The Mystery of the Kibble Crook - Clifford the Big Red Dog" -adapted by Liz Mills - the story of what happened to the Kibble and telling the truth

"The SHOW-and-TELL Surprise - Clifford the Big Red Dog" - adapted by Teddy Margulies - finding just the right special thing to bring for show-and-tell.

"The Runaway Bunny" by Margaret Wise Brown - the story of a small bunny and his/her explorations of the world & his/her mothers love

"Dancing with Manatees" by Faith M\NcNulty - a story about a biologist talking about and showing a young friend all about Manatees

"Unicorn Wings" by Mallory Loehr - a story about a Unicorn wanting wings to fly and her search for her wish

"T-Rex Trick-or-Treats" by Lois G. Grambling - a T-Rex's search for the perfect Halloween outfit

"My School's a Zoo" by Stu Smith - a Dr Seuss Book about a child comparing his/her partents and school to the animals for the Zoo that they visited on a class outing

"A Bad Case of Stripes" by David Shannon - a young girl tries to fit in by being like her surroundings and denying her likes.

"The Umbrella" by Jan Brett - a young boy journey's into the "cloud forest" (rain forest) to find what animals he can find.

"Meet the Robinsons" - A Family for Lewis - based on Disney Movie

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Some of the other titles included:

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
The Dentist from the Black Lagoon
Harriet Tubman
She Sells Seashells - A Tongue Twister Song
All Aboard Science Reader - Gross Out!
All Aboard Science Reader - A Princess for A Day
Get Ready for Gabi! Who's That Girl
In My Momma's Kitchen
Bernie McGrudder Series - one of the series
America the Beautiful
Amazing Gorilla
Spy High Mission One
Charlie Bones Series books - several of the titles
Artemis Fowl Series books - several of the titles
Pendragon Series books - several of the titles
..and many more!

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