When first-graders at Knights Elementary School cracked open the pages of their free book, “School is Fun,” on Dec. 14, they never expected they would be part the story. The surprise came when students realized they were a character in the book and saw their name, teacher and family members incorporated into the text.
The program is part of a joint initiative between bookmaker Marla Banta, school social worker Mari Wilensky and sponsor CF Industries. This is the third year the books have been distributed to Knights.
Banta always knew she had a unique name. When she was a child, she loved personalized items that had names printed on them, such as keychains and pencils. But she never could find her name on any of the products. When she was 8 years old, her father showed her how to make baby bracelets with lettered beads so she could spell whatever she wanted. She began selling her bracelets.
The creative process didn’t stop at childhood. In the 1970s, Banta became involved with a personalized book company and began making and selling books. She quit to raise a family and then picked the career up decades later, selling the books at flea markets, fairs and even Walmart.
Through her sales, Banta met a teacher who had a group of students with a low reading level. The teacher thought the books would be a great way to get students reading, so she bought them with her own money. The students were so taken by their names being in the story that their reading levels increased by the end of the year.
This sparked an idea with Banta, who saw the personalized books as an educational tool. Banta decided to start finding sponsors to fund book drives for students.
“In many cases, I’ve seen it and heard it,” Banta said. “It encourages reading from an early age.”
In the early 2000s, Banta was contacted by Wilensky, who was then a student at the University of Florida and Miss Florida. Wilensky’s pageant platform was literacy, and she wanted to start book drives for students around the state. Together, the duo brought reading to hundreds of schools.
When Wilensky got a job at Knights Elementary School, she continued the program and recruited CF Industries as the sponsor. CF Industries has worked with Knights Elementary for years on other educational occasions, such as its preservation project.
“Knights is right in our backyard,” CF Industries’ Director of Community Affairs for Phosphate Operations Richard Ghent said. “A lot of our employees live near there and like to be involved.”
One of those involved employees is chief chemist Harold Falls, who initially brought the idea of the program to Ghent’s attention.
“Every project is unique, but if you spend anytime with the teachers and administration, they’re dedicated and generous,” Ghent said. “We just feel really grateful to be involved in the project.”
Organizers hope to do another drive for second-graders this spring. Banta said she will continue making books for as long as she can.
“You’re building a community when you’re putting literacy in the hands of these students who can use it to further their education,” she said.
If you know a school or daycare that could benefit from the program, call Marla Banta at (828) 367-5351 or visit her website.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.