Reading is a passion for High Hill sisters Everleigh and Elodie Poggas.

“They like to read to each other,” said Christina, Everleigh and Elodie’s mother.

For the last several months, Everleigh and Elodie have shown their love of reading in the Montgomery City Public Library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Ever since they signed up for the program last spring, they have combined to read over 2,000 books.

Recently, Everleigh and Elodie joined Alva Powell and Judah Imig in a group of young children that reached the 1,000-book mark. Everleigh is 6 years old, while Elodie is 2.

“I think it’s important that we started the program and we finished it because 1,000 books is a lot,” Christina said. “I wasn’t sure how long it was going to take us. But I think it’s important for everybody to know that once you start something, you’ve got to finish it. It may take you a long time, but once you finish it, you get a sense of accomplishment.”

There were over 30 participants in the program, which started in September 2020. All participants sign up at the library and pick up program materials. They receive a reading log, which allows them to keep track of the books they read. Participants get a sticker after they read 100 books and a bracelet for 500 books. Anyone who reaches the 1,000-book mark gets a free book along with a certificate of completion.

“It’s a great program that the library put on because it encourages reading,” said Christina, who is a teacher in the Montgomery County R-II School District. “Being in education, I know how important that it is in starting early in working on your reading skills. That way, once you get to school, you’re where you are supposed to be. You’re not behind, so I think it’s still important to expose them to books and words and letters and sounds.”

Christina said she’s thrilled that Everleigh has read over 1,000 books since last spring.

“We started it then and she has been reading since then,” Christina said. “We didn’t quite get there (1,000 books) before she got to kindergarten, but she was finished about halfway through kindergarten. She loves reading. Her favorite books are Amelia Bedelia books and anything that has to do with animals because she wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.”

Elodie enjoys reading books on Peppa Pig and Dora The Explorer.

“I don’t know if she has a favorite book yet,” Christina said. “She just likes to read books. Anything her sister likes to read, I think she wants to read it, too.”

Everleigh is a kindergarten student at Montgomery City Elementary, while Elodie goes to Immaculate Conception Preschool. Christina said whenever her daughters are not reading, they like to hang out together.

“They love to play outside,” Christina said. “They love to go to the park and play on the swing. Everleigh has been a big sister to her little sister. She tries to play school with her. They read and do math. They love animals since we have cats. They like to spend time with their cousins and their grandparents.”