Albert Lea Area Schools recently received 29 boxes of books for free from the nonprofit First Book organization. Employee Mary Jo Dorman wrote a grant explaining that the district wants all students to have access to books because of their role in a child’s development. When children aren’t read to at home their vocabulary is significantly lower than their peers whose parents and family members read to them. Shown here reading are Dominic Mendez, Sylus Vines and Janely Perez-Tuxpan. -- Submitted