In celebration of its fifth year and distribution of 300,000 books, One Book 4 Colorado recognized the special milestone with a "Golden Ticket" prize. The prize was placed inside a copy of this year's selection, Giraffes Can't Dance, which was discovered by 4-year-old Shawn Forristall during a reading in Limon, Colorado.
To celebrate literacy and the notion that reading is a "ticket" to adventure, the prize includes children\'s books donated by Walmart and two round - trip tickets provided by Southwest Airlines.
Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia read the 2016 One Book 4 Colorado selection, Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae at the Limon Child Development Center in Limon earlier last week. Joined by Limon Mayor Julie Coonts and Assistant Commissioner at the Colorado Department of Education Gene Hainer, Garcia read to more than 100 preschoolers from across Lincoln County.
One Book 4 Colorado, started in 2012, gives away more than 75,000 copies of the same book to each 4-year-old in the state in English and Spanish through public and military libraries and Denver Preschool Program classrooms. The program is a collaboration of the Colorado State Library, the Denver Preschool Program, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the Colorado Department of Education, Serve Colorado, public and military libraries, community organizations, and the private sector. Project sponsors include: Wal-Mart, Anadarko, McDonalds, The Cydney and Tom Marsico Family Foundation, Safeway/Albertsons, The Office of Early Childhood, The Buell Foundation, State Farm, The Junior League of Denver, Kaiser Permanente, Bank of America, Aspen Community Foundation, Teletech, Southwest Airlines, Newmont Mining, The Aaron Harber Show and the Colorado Department of Agriculture. To learn more about One Book 4 Colorado sponsors visit the official website.