SMART (Start Making A Reader Today)®, an Oregon-based reading nonprofit organization is celebrating 25 years! In honor of this special milestone, SMART has published a children’s book to do what they do best: get kids excited and motivated about reading. Oregon Reads Aloud features 25 read-aloud stories for kids, written and illustrated by members of our local children’s literature community. While the stories reflect a diverse range of topics, tones and styles, they’re unified by one common theme: Oregon. The book is a celebration of our state, our kids, our families, and the power of books and reading in forming our experiences, paths, and passions. To learn more about SMART and Oregon Reads Aloud, visit www.getSMARToregon.org/25years.

Authors for the half-hour story time are Elizabeth Rusch and Carmen T. Bernier-Grand.