MILILANI — Kipapa Elementary students received a donation of over 600 books from authors Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr, a husband and wife author/illustrator duo, who are promoting literacy across the country in their "Busload of Books" project. 

The school hosted a special assembly and group sessions to meet the authors during their visit to Hawaiʻi and students thanked them in person for the donation, more than enough for each student and teacher to receive their own copies. 

The authors gave presentations highlighting the creative process of writing and drawing, and the importance of reading and imagination to all grade levels. The special event culminated in a Parent Literacy Night with the entire school community to further emphasize the importance of reading to overall academic success. 

The authors, in partnership with First Book and the Build-A-Bear Foundation, are giving away 150,000 books nationwide this school year and are traveling to Title I schools in all 50 states to accompany the deliveries.