Mountain Readers Become Leaders

Mountain Readers is a literacy initiative designed to celebrate and foster a love of reading in children across West Virginia. Mountain Readers Week will be held Oct. 5-9, 2026!

Our book for 2026 is Little Red and BIG, BAD FRED by West Virginia author and illustrator Ashley Belote.

Before You Sign Up: Please note that supplies are limited. Books will be prioritized for those volunteers who plan to read at their local libraries, daycares, community centers, or elementary schools. Volunteers are responsible for finding their own placements for reading. Suggested grades include PreK-3.

See our sign-up form below with further details about volunteering in your community. Celebrate and encourage a love of reading in West Virginia youth and prepare them to become leaders of tomorrow!

2026 Volunteer Sign-Up Form

If you have any questions, please email us at education@wvpublic.org.

2025 Mountain Readers,
The Wonderfully Wild Ones
2024 Mountain Readers,
Chicks in the City
Thank You Headline Books For Supporting WVPB Education
Black and white logo for Headline Books. It features a drawing of an old man wearing glasses and reading a book. Surrounding the words are drawings of flowers.

Little Red and BIG, BAD FRED

A book cover illustration of a child walking by a large wolf in the woods. The child is dressed in a red hat and overalls. The wolf is licking its lips. Text on the cover reads, Little Red and the Big, Bad, Fred by Ashley Belote.
Little Red Riding Hood like you’ve never seen before! This fractured fairy tale will have kids in stitches as Little Red optimistically befriends Fred (who may or may not try to EAT Little Red), reminding readers to always see the best in others, even when they have sharp teeth and are definitely the big, bad wolf.

Learn more about Ashley Belote.

Mountain Readers Statewide Receive:

  • A copy of the book Little Red and BIG, BAD FRED written and illustrated by Ashley Belote

  • Resources and activities to accompany the book

  • Video messages from the author

2026 Mountain Readers Become Leaders Resources

Videos

Coming soon!

Classroom Activities

Coming soon!

Check Out The 2026 PBS KIDS Writers Contest Winners!

Click here to read all the winning stories from the 2026 PBS KIDS Writers Contest at West Virginia Public Broadcasting. You’ll also find the 2026 Reader’s Choice award winners on this page.

The PBS KIDS Writers Contest at WVPB is an annual competition that encourages West Virginia children in grades K-5 to explore the power of creativity by writing and illustrating their own stories.