The following editorial appeared in Thursday's Washington Post:
Summer reading is more than just a chance to plow through the
novels of Jack London or Laura Ingalls Wilder. For many
children, it's a time to think, ponder and imagine in a setting
far from the pressures of school or the distractions of
extracurricular activities. Research has shown that summer
reading is time well spent: Young people who read during the
summers are less likely to forget the things they learn in
school the year before and are more likely to strengthen skills
they need for the next grade level. The problem is that not all
children have books or time to read, and those from economically
challenged backgrounds typically come back from summers less
prepared than their privileged counterparts. Worse, they're
often unable to catch up. At Abingdon Elementary School in
Arlington, Va., however, that may no longer be the case. This
summer, the school created a "book bus," which serves as a
portable library. Officially known as the "Read a