Attention, Duval Four-Year-Olds! New Book Club Volume Debuts

The latest volume in Mayor Peyton’s Book Club series was launched May 17 at a ceremony at the City Hall Atrium. The new book, entitled We Salute Our Military, was introduced and read aloud by Mayor John Peyton to children from the Child Development Centers at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport.

We Salute Our Military is the thirteenth volume in the series. Six years ago, BroadBased Communications was hired to design and produce the RALLY! Jacksonville program’s backpack of learning aids and books for distribution to Duval County four-year-olds as part of the Mayor’s Book Club. Since then, more than 53,000 children have received the popular literacy materials through their schools, early learning centers or via the Jacksonville Public Library system.

The military-themed book was written by Donna Peacock Hanczaryk and Ginger Peacock Preston. Ethan Long continued his tradition of creating lively illustrations to accompany the text, placing the characters in familiar settings in and around Jacksonville.

Upon completion of this latest volume, Mayor John Peyton sent his thanks by letter to BroadBased staff for their long-standing participation in the early childhood reading project: “Your support and generosity over the years have helped to make RALLY! Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Children’s Commission a great success,” he wrote, “and for that I am most appreciative.”