State Senator Steve Stadelman read "Jabari Jumps" about a youngster gathering the courage to take his first plunge of a high diving board, to dozens of students who then enjoyed a pizza party to celebrate the conclusion of Stadelman's fifth Summer Book Club reading challenge.

Sixty-eight students at the Boys and Girls Club of Rockford Stenstrom Unit read 8 books over six weeks. The reading challenge, open to all students in the 34th Senate District, has been based at Stenstrom for the last four years, but Stadelman is hosting a SECOND PIZZA PARTY at 2:15 PM TOMORROW, Aug. 1, for a smaller book club at Northwest Community Center, 1325 N. Johnston Ave. 

Students who met the reading challenge also received Certificates of Recognition from the Illinois Senate.

"It's important for students to keep up their reading skills over the summer," Stadelman said. "Most kids love a challenge and love pizza, so the book club encourages them read more than they might otherwise when they're not in school."