Skid Row Children Celebrate Gift of 2,700 Books to School

They were all there Tuesday morning at the 9th Street Elementary School in downtown Los Angeles. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Mayor Tom Bradley.

Officially, the stars for the day were the colorful books piled high at the front of the school’s asphalt playground, 2,700 in all.

There were catchy titles like “Do Bananas Chew Gum?” and classics like “Heidi” and “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” all of them donated to the school by the Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park as a reading incentive for the students who live in the hotel rooms and tiny apartments lining Skid Row.

But for the 475 youngsters fidgeting in the sunshine Tuesday, the real attractions were the celebrities.

For Bradley, there was clapping and a pint-sized swoon or two. And for Bugs and Daffy, there were handshakes, hugs and out-and-out hero worship. Giggling girls pulled at Bugs’ buck teeth and tweaked his whiskers. Little boys stroked Daffy’s beak and shyly rubbed his head.

The reading would come later for most of them.

Collected during a recent “Bring a Book Weekend” at the amusement park when children were admitted free if they donated a volume, the books will be used to establish classroom libraries at the year-old school.

“This will enable our students to start enjoying reading for pleasure,” Principal Michael Jeffers said. “The majority of our families have limited access to books in their homes. Now, the children can take home books every night of the year.”

Most youngsters entering the school have little or no education and spotty attendance records. The children of immigrant families, more than half are considered “limited English proficient.”

“These kids live in one-room hotel rooms,” teacher Sharon DeBriere said. “When I first came here and I said they could touch books, they were thrilled. This is wonderful.”

A handful of the children agreed.

Second-grader Jesus De Partida wasn’t sure whom to see, but he was sure what he wanted. Racing from one adult to another, he tugged at their sleeves, repeating over and over his simple request.

“I want ‘Return of the Jedi.’ It’s Jesus, Jesus. Write down my name.”