Schools celebrate reading and culture with another Latine Read-In for the books

Students in Room Five at Melrose Leadership Academy gathered around two adults with storybooks in their hands. They frowned when they heard a sad story and eagerly raised their hands to answer every question asked by the readers, volunteers for the 11th annual Latine Read-In Week.

Organized by the Oakland Public Education Fund, the read-in brings community members into classrooms to share stories reflecting Latine voices and cultures.

This year, 14 Oakland elementary schools welcomed 118 volunteers who read to 280 students. The Oakland Public Education Fund donated 168 books to the classrooms and libraries as well.

‘Abuelita and Me’

This year’s Read-In Week, which began on Oct. 7, took on special significance: That same day, Oakland City Council passed a resolution recognizing Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month. The week of reading and celebration echoed that recognition, honoring Latine voices and highlighting the power of cultural connection through books.

Volunteer Patrick Wolff read two books to students in the third and fifth grades at Allendale Elementary. This was his third year participating in the program.

One of the books was “Abuelita and Me,” a book about a girl whose grandmother helps her confront racing.

“It was my favorite, and you could actually see the kids resonating with it,” Wolff said with a smile. He saw Spanish-speaking students in his class helping their English-speaking peers understand the bilingual story line.

In the room next door, volunteer Momo Voris ran into some challenges while reading to fifth-grade students. They were slapping rulers, dropping bottles on the floor and talking while she was reading.

“Let’s take a minute from this,” said Voris, putting down the book. “Put your hands on your nose.” She pointed her finger at her nose. The students stopped talking and followed.  “Put them on your head, and then your shoulders.” The classroom calmed down.

Voris realized the fifth graders weren’t interested in the picture books. But with 14 years of experience working with children, she knew how to regain control of the classroom. 

“It is worth understanding these stories of people who look like us, or don’t look like us,” she said to the class. “It’s going to make us better humans to understand those stories, even if they come in bright-color packaging that feels a little bit too young for us.”

Both Wolff and Voris work for the Oakland Zoo, which sent six staff members as volunteers to three schools during the week. For them, it was a small but meaningful way to connect with their city. 

“There are more schools in Oakland than we have volunteers,” Wolff said.

He hopes more companies, nonprofits and community members would put their hands up to read next year.

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