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 was held Oct. 6-10, 2025. Please bookmark this page and join us next year!

Our book for 2025 was The Wonderfully Wild Ones by West Virginia author Adeline Schneid and illustrated by Ashley Belote.

Volunteers who participate in Mountain Readers Week choose to read at libraries, classrooms, daycares, community centers and more! Celebrate and encourage a love of reading in West Virginia youth and prepare them to become leaders of tomorrow.

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

2024 Mountain Readers,
Chicks in the City

Thank You To Our 2025 Sponsors

A red and black graphic that says, "ZMM Architects Engineers."
A blue, white, and green graphic that says "Hope Gas." It featured a small illustrated flame.

The Wonderfully Wild Ones

A book cover that says, "The Wonderfully Wild Ones" by Adeline Schneid. Illustrated by Ashley Belote. The book cover features a family of three lions.
Wonderfully Wild Ones is the story of three lively lions living in a tiny piece of “Almost Heaven,” but their adventurous, sometimes, mischievous spirits spark a journey of discovery.

Mountain Readers Statewide Receive:

  • A copy of the book The Wonderfully Wild Ones written by Adeline Schneid and illustrated by Ashley Belote

  • Resources and activities to accompany the book

  • Video messages from the author

2025 Mountain Readers Become Leaders Resources

Videos

An interview with W.Va. author Adeline Schneid.

W.Va. author Adeline Schneid reads “The Wonderfully Wild Ones.”
WVPB staff read “The Wonderfully Wild Ones.”

Classroom Activities

West Virginia Adventure List
Guided Activities Mountain Readers 2025
WV Nature Scavenger Hunt
Wild Ones Checklist
Wild Ones Postcard
WV Book Craft
Monarch Craft
Black Bear Bird Feeder
WV Park Research Brochure
Mini Origami Book Template

Check out our video series all about West Virginia’s State Parks!

Check Out The 2025 PBS KIDS Writers Contest Winners!

Click here to read all the winning stories from the 2025 PBS KIDS Writers Contest at West Virginia Public Broadcasting. You’ll also find the 2025 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.