Cielo Vista Charter Hosts Reading Pals Literacy Event

Cielo Vista Charter School in Palm Springs hosted a special literacy event yesterday called Reading Pals. The program is a collaboration with the Kiwanis Club of Palm Springs and the Palm Springs High School Key Club.

As part of the initiative, 82 second-grade students received a copy of the children’s book Guapo’s Giant Heart: The True Story of the Calf Who Kept Growing by Emmy Award-winning journalist and author Janet Zapala. Each student also received a teddy bear reading companion to support literacy and encourage reading over their winter break.

The goal of Reading Pals is to inspire a love of reading, spark children’s imaginations, and build literacy confidence without relying on screens. Zappala joined the students for a read-aloud session, sharing the story and engaging young readers with the tale of Guapo, the growing calf.

This event is part of a broader effort to foster early literacy and ensure students develop strong reading habits that will benefit them throughout their education.