The Renton School District’s fourth-graders are learning to be tutors this year by reading to younger students.

Reading Buddies has paired about 1,000 fourth- and fifth-graders with second- and first-graders, in the new year-long program.

“This is cut out to entice the kids to read in a really positive way,” said Maplewood Heights Elementary principal Judy Busch.

Local Toyota dealer Bob Bridge paid for about 650 new hardcover books. The colorful clean covers now decorate the tops of library bookcases.

Bridge approached Renton schools Superintendent Mary Alice Heuschel after hearing about a similar program from his granddaughter.

He then asked Tukwila’s Family Fun Center to open its business for a kick-off celebration.

The center opened early two consecutive mornings in September to the fourth- and fifth-graders participating in the program. The donation would have otherwise cost about $30,000, said spokesperson Randy Matheson.

Kids flooded the fun center both days with a sea of smiles.

Donating about $8,000 altogether, Bridge also paid for the transportation costs, and the program kicked off with a bang.

At the celebration, KING 5’s Jean Enersen gave a speech about the importance of reading.

“They just came back totally excited,” Busch said. “They also came back talking about what the message was.”

The district is hoping to return to the fun center at the end of the year to celebrate the completion of the program.

Reading Buddies is just one of the many ways partnering with the local business community and the City of Renton has benefited the district, Busch said.

“It’s just been a really nice and very impressive way for kids to see that people outside the school care about reading,” she said.

Similar programs have been organized at some Renton elementary schools, but this is the first district-wide program.

“The ante has been up with this year’s deal,” Busch said. “They are excited, and having fun, and reading.”

Fourth- and second-graders make up most the program, but some schools include fifth- and first-graders. Teachers set up the reading times, and class participation varies.

Bridge allowed a district librarian to pick out the books, which are all at about the second-grade reading level. Using the books for the program, the fourth-graders get first dibs.

Bridge also added stickers with his name to the inside cover.

After the older students read, the younger students often ask questions.

“It really helps them build fluency in their reading,” Busch said. “They have to explain what they’re reading.”

The younger students also have a chance to read to the older ones.

“The fourth-graders are always excited having second-graders read to them,” Busch said.

At Maplewood two boys cordially take turns reading pages from different stories, while two girls cuddled up around a book.

“Anytime when kids are being read to, it’s a good thing,” Busch said.