Two thumbs up - Book reading brings CSM Mann, Picerne reps to Ware Elementary

By Bill ArmstrongApril 13, 2009

Two thumbs up - Book reading brings CSM Mann, Picerne reps to Ware Elementary
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Two thumbs up - Book reading brings CSM Mann, Picerne reps to Ware Elementary
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Ware Elementary School second graders give a "thumbs up" rating to Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Ian Mann after he finished reading a book on citizenship to them April 3 on post. The reading was part of a Month of the Military Child celebration sponsore... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RILEY, Kan. - Ware Elementary School's second grade students welcomed a special guest April 3 to read to them a book on citizenship. Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Ian Mann sat in a rocking chair in front of the children and read from cover to cover "The Adventures of Thumbs Up Johnnie - Thumbs Up to Red, White and Blue."

The reading was part of a presentation by Picerne Military Housing and Fort Riley in celebration of the Month of the Military Child. Each student received a free copy of the book by Michelle Bain, as well as accompanying Thumbs Up bracelets and bookmarks.

Sam Robinson, Picerne's communications manager, met the author at the Association of the United States Army convention this past October in Washington, D.C.

"We really liked this book," Robinson said. "And all of her books deal with trying to inspire children to have positive characteristics, hygiene and behavior. This book's about citizenship, so we thought it would be a great one to give for the Month of the Military Child."

The children quietly sat on three levels of carpeted bleachers in the school's library as Mann read through each page. The book tells the story of Thumbs Up Johnnie and his friends as they take a trip through history to learn about national monuments, the Constitution and being a good citizen.

"Reading to kids is very important because it reaffirms to them that they will need reading skills throughout their life in all that they do," Mann said.

At the end of the program, all 115 Ware students shouted their thanks in unison to Mann and Picerne representatives. Then the children raised their arms to give two thumbs up.

Picerne sent teams of representatives to each of Fort Riley's five elementary schools.

"We wanted each child to have a copy to take home and share with parents and other siblings. The books for the students and schools are just a small token of our appreciation for our Fort Riley kids and their Families," said John Pearsall, Picerne's director of community management, in a written statement.

Picerne delivered free books to 330 second grade students on post, along with an eight-book set of Bain's books to each school's library.