Michele Krueger, a California poet, penned "RIF Day" when she became the RIF coordinator at her daughter's elementary school. With lively verse, she captures the fun and excitement of a RIF book distribution.

RIF Day

by Michele Krueger

Today is the day! It’s finally come!
So blow on your trumpet and beat on your drum! 

Make an announcement! Sky-write the news!
The books have arrived, and you get to choose 

Spread out on tables, a scrumptious array,
A Feast of Good Reading, today is RIF Day! 

Books as delicious as blueberry pie,
covered with ice-cream two scoops high 

Melt-in-your-mouth books, one-of-a-kind,
to nibble and taste with the tongue of your mind

Books seem to whisper, like willowy trees-
Come sway in our branches, come dream in our leaves 

We'll take you on journeys where you’ve never been,
just open our covers and let us begin... 

Amazing adventures, travels through time,
historical fiction, hysterical rhyme,

Alphabet antics and books that explore
the way things are made, and what friends are for 

Books are like windows that let the breeze in,
to freshen your feelings that lie deep within 

A harvest of language, like farmers you’ll reap
the fruits of the writers with thoughts you can keep 

Not books to borrow, not books for loan,
books you can treasure as your very own 

Reading together on laps and in bed,
their music and magic will fill up your head 

At bus-stops, or rooftops, on lawns in the park,
switch on your flashlight to read in the dark! 

Shake up your pom-poms, and shout out a cheer,
for books you can look at year after year! 

Ready the rockets, set off the fuse,
today YOU decide on which book to choose! 

Back to Reading Is Fun Week main.