Some Rainier View Elementary students got a jump on learning last Friday.

“We’re hoping that with school 13 days away, this gets them excited,” teacher Kim Schoeler said.

About a dozen teachers and staff went to the school’s two largest apartment buildings, Crosspointe (35810 16th Ave. S.) and Pinewood (33311 18th Lane S.), with more than 100 books for the 50-plus students that live in those two complexes. The book giveaway was a first for the school, after the idea was broached by first-grade teacher Schoeler last year.

Schoeler told Principal Kent Cross about the idea last year. Cross went to the school’s PTA earlier this spring to put the idea in motion.

Books were donated by Reading Tree and included books for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Starting just after 2 p.m. Aug. 20, kids began trickling in, spending time pursuing dozens of books, flipping through pages to find their perfect book.

Some of the teachers brought over some suggested books for each child, which were either accepted eagerly or dismissed with a shake of the head and a quick “nah.”

Every student who came in, regardless of whether they actually attended Rainier View, was able to pick two books for their very own.

“Kids really need books; they need to have their own little library and not everyone has that,” Schoeler said.

Schoeler hopes the program becomes an annual event. Next year, she hopes to find more chapter books to give to the kids with the higher reading levels. Books can be donated to the school by calling (253) 945-3700.