Editor:

This is the second year that the Star Arabian Horse Club has raised the funds to allow R.A. Hall first-graders to benefit from the Black Stallion Literacy Project. Because of this group’s dedication, every first-grader at R.A. Hall gets to meet “Little Black” at school. After this “first touch,” each child receives a beautiful book entitled “Little Black, a Pony” by Walter Farley.

During the next month, the children read this book and participated in activities and discussions that prepared them for a field trip to the Expo Center where stations have been set up to provide hands-on experiences with horses. During this time, each child has the opportunity to read aloud to an understanding and non-judgmental horse!

At the close of this exciting afternoon, the first-graders are each presented with another Walter Farley book, “Little Black Goes to the Circus.” By this time, these children consider “Little Black” to be one of their best friends and eagerly write to him.

Kim Contreras