I have been volunteering to read books at an elementary school once a month (every semester since the Corona disaster) for about eight years now, during the time before morning classes begin, and in this connection, I created a poster to announce the 40th anniversary celebration.
The schoolyard is planted with grass and is famous for its beautiful cherry blossoms in spring. The school was actually scheduled to close around 2017 due to a decrease in the number of students, and residents and others had been campaigning for the school’s survival, but after a certain year, the number of students suddenly began to increase in a V-shape, and the decision was made to continue the school’s existence.
It is a strange thing that I, who was not a good match for the school, happened to have a chance to be reading picture books and books to small students. It really is. Everyone listens to me quietly. I get nervous when they look at me with straight eyes. I am always happy to hear the students greet me cheerfully.
I have selected a book for next week’s reading aloud at the library. It is a story about a boy who gets on the first train for the first time.