About

To assist with children’s emerging literacy development and in response to the COVID-19 emergency, the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is excited to announce the 2nd year of the West Virginia Blue Ribbon Book Club. This project is the result of a collaboration between the WVDE, Marshall University’s June Harless Center, and The Dollywood Foundation to provide a small library of high-quality children’s books to all children in first, second, and third grades. Children will receive a shipment of two books to their homes in mid-June, and two books in mid-July. Educators of these grades will also receive these books prior to returning to their elementary school at the start of the school year.

Book Collection

Coordination with The Dollywood Foundation and Marshall University’s June Harless Center will provide over 200,000 total books to West Virginia children this summer. Children entering first, second, and third grades for the 2021-2022 school year will receive four books each between June and July. Each book was carefully selected to be age-appropriate, of high-interest, and engaging. This carefully curated book collection is intended to foster a love of reading while helping to maintain literacy skills over the summer. We hope children and families alike enjoy reading this collection time and time again.

Celebrity Highlights

Violet the Pilot
Read Aloud by Marshall University President Jerome Gilbert

The Loopy Coop Hens
Read Aloud by West Virginia First Lady Justice

This School Year Will Be The Best
Read Aloud by 2019 Miss West Virginia Toriane Graal

The Night Before First Grade
Read Aloud by Senator Manchin

Ladybug Girl
Read Aloud by WVU President Gordon Gee

How Chipmunk Got His Stripes
Read Aloud by WVU Head Football Coach Neal Brown

How to Hide an Octopus
Read Aloud by Senator Capito

Otis and the Kittens
Read Aloud by State Superintendent Clayton Burch

Partners