''Reading Olympics'' Gets Philadelphia Students Reading and Competing

by KYW's Karin Phillips

Philadelphia's "Reading Olympics" has begun, with thousands of city students showing off what they have learned from reading.

It was one team from the Blankenburg School against another from Martha Washington -- all 7th and 8th graders, all from West Philadelphia -- answering questions about the 15 books the teams have read over the past four months.
   
Blankenburg was the winner by a score of 17 to 12.  Thirteen-year-old Priscilla Ausberry, who was on the winning team, loves reading:

"It's like a dream world.  It's like a fantasy world that gets you excited about the things that you can't do."
 
Eighth grader Yumaya DuPont from Washington School says she's disappointed in the loss, but considers the effort worthwhile:

"I think I think better when I'm inside literature."

The competition, for grades 4 and up, continues through May 15th.  Andrienne Jacoby (in photo, quizzing the students) is executive director of Philadelphia Reads:

"Everybody is a winner in here.  It's just the different ribbons that they earn."

(Photo by KYW's Karin Phillips)