On Tuesday, December 14, the Questa Public Library hosted students from Alta Vista Elementary/Intermediate School, reinstating a beloved tradition that had been on hiatus for the past three years. The visitors came in four groups: pre-K and kindergarten; first and second grade; third and fourth grade; and finally fifth and sixth.

The purpose of the school visit program is to introduce the Questa Public Library to the children of the Questa area and hopefully instill a lifelong love of reading. Younger guests were treated to songs and stories read by library assistant Valerie Vigil. Older students, veterans of earlier visits, expressed enthusiasm over the expanded library and participated in a scavenger hunt. At the end of the visit, each child received a gift bag containing three age- and gender-appropriate books for their own. Only one young man asked where the real surprise was!

The library has the full collection for this year’s Battle of the Books. A survey of 10 and 11-year-olds’ favorite books produced a variety of choices, including Dog Man, Holes, Ribsy, Wonder, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. There was also an eclectic scattering of varying choices, including National Velvet, Words on Fire, and Dr. Suess titles.

Library director Sharon Nicholson plans to hold another school visit in the spring. “If you like reading books,” she said, “you can go anywhere.” For more information regarding Questa Public Library’s programs, call (575) 586-2023.