SNOHOMISH — Paityn Cotterill will do anything for a book.
Her mom, Kalene Cotterill, said the surest way to get the 10-year-old to do something or try something new is to promise her some fresh pages.
When Paityn was nervous about starting taekwondo, the enticement of a new title got her to class. She’s a yellow belt now.
“When she could walk, the first things she went to were books,” Cotterill said.
Paityn wants other kids to have books, too.
Along with her 9-year-old sister Isla, Paityn is raising money for Snohomish School District’s “Book Cafe,” a library on wheels that brings books to students during the summer.
The Book Cafe began in 2013 as a way to help students maintain reading skills while school was out, said Jenny Granger, who runs the program.
It travels weekly to mobile home parks in the Snohomish area as well as to the Snohomish Aquatics Center and the Snohomish Boys & Girls Club.
The fourth-grade Riverview Elementary sisters approached the district last fall with an idea to raise money through a community garage sale. They started gathering items from neighbors and friends in October. In the past months, sneakers, toy sets, games, books, kitchenware, bedding, stuffed animals, clothes and more have filled the family’s garage.
Whenever a new carload of items is dropped off, the sisters clean and organize the bounty.
“It’s really surprising to think a 9- and 10-year-old have this kind of motivation,” Cotterill said. “Because at that age, I certainly didn’t.”
Paityn flips through a pop up book Wednesday, Feb. 6 that was donated next to a large pile of donations being stored in their family garage at their home in Snohomish. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Last week at their home in Snohomish, Paityn and Isla thundered up the stairs to grab some of their favorite books.
“I have billions of favorites,” Paityn said.
She said it’s important for all kids to have books so they can learn about topics like history.
“It’s for knowledge,” Paityn said.
She’s writing her own book — a trilogy, in fact, filled with fantastical creatures like elves and Orcs. She just started the second chapter.
Through the garage sale, Paityn said she hopes every student in Snohomish County “will be able to learn with books.”
The sale will be held Friday, Feb. 22, and Saturday, Feb. 23, at the sisters’ home. Contact district communications director Kristin Foley at 360-563-7263 or Kristin.Foley@sno.wednet.edu for directions and more information on the sale.
The plan is to have the garage sale ready after school on Friday around 1:30 p.m. and around noon on Saturday.
The girls are looking forward to seeing how much money their hard work will reap.
Paityn said she’s hoping the garage sale items will bring in “zillions.”
Her sister Isla said “near a hundred would be nice.”
Julia-Grace Sanders: 425-339-3439; jgsanders@heraldnet.com.
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