Past Years' Events

2007
View an introductory video
Songs inspired by each of 2007's Wyoming Reads books
were written and performed by Diana Von Gunten.
Click each title to hear the song for that book.

The Great Fuzz Frenzy
by Janet Stevens
and Susan Stevens Crummel
Brave Dogs, Gentle Dogs: How They Guard Sheep
by Cat Urbigkit
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More
by Karen Beaumont
and David Catrow
The Little Red Hen
by Jerry Pinkney
Prehistoric Actual Size
by Steve Jenkins
The Younger Brother's Survival Guide by Matt
by Lisa Kopelke

2006
Where the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak
Knuffle Bunny:
A Cautionary Tale
by Mo Willems
Diary of a Spider
by Doreen Cronin
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle
Tough Boris
by Mem Fox
Waiting for Wings
by Lois Ehlert

Casper Cares, Casper Reads Titles 1999-2005

Related Sites:

Klamath Cares, Klamath Reads
Klamath Falls, Oregon

Springfield's Gift of Literacy
Springfield, Oregon

My Book Day
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Corvalis, Oregon

The Sue Jorgensen Library Foundation History

The Sue Jorgensen Library Foundation was created in 1996 to benefit libraries and advance the cause of childhood literacy in Wyoming. After making a significant contribution of books to the library of her children's elementary school, the foundation learned of a community that held an annual drive to raise enough money to give every first grade child a book to encourage early enthusiasm for reading. With the support of local teachers, administrators, and parents, the "Casper Cares, Casper Reads" project was born.


A steering committee of teachers, librarians, school administrators and parents was formed in January 1999. Six hardback books of varying reading levels were selected to be distributed to each first grade classroom in the school district. Each student then had the opportunity to select the book of their choice. Orders were compiled and placed through an independent local bookstore. In June 1999, all of the Natrona County School District first graders gathered on the campus of Casper College for the very first CC/CR festival. One of the many exciting aspects of this program is that it benefits all children -from great readers to those who are just "breaking the code," from those with veritable libraries of their own to those without a single book in their home.

John Jorgensen leads this group of extraordinary educators and civic leaders. John established the Sue Jorgensen Library Foundation and the "Casper Cares, Casper Reads" celebration to honor his late wife's commitment to literacy and books. "She was always very dedicated to children and to literacy," says John. "She believed that until someone can read, they can't really do anything else." This is the vision fueling this important community enterprise.

Wyoming Reads Contributors