The Ferguson Forum -- Book Buddies Program

At just seven-years-old, Hari Krishnan is a great reader, but during one recent morning, one phonetically-challenging word kept tripping him up. That word was “enough.”

“It was close en…” Hari read in his book, “Shoo, Fly Guy” by Tedd Arnold.

Enter Adam Glielmi, a Book Buddy, to help Hari with the difficult word.

“E-nough,” Adam coached gently.

Adam is a graduate student and an intern at the Stamford tax firm of KPMG. The firm started a “Book Buddy” program at The Library where college student volunteers read with kids for an hour in the morning on weekdays.

“I think it’s great,” said Adam, a 29-year-old Stamford resident who is changing careers and pursuing an MBA at the University of Connecticut. “KPMG has had a few community service events during the internship.”

After Hari finished his book, his sister, 9-year-old Sakthi Kasi read a book about owls to Adam.

Sakthi and Hari’s mother, Meena Kasi, said she is thrilled with the Book Buddy program.

“I bring them every day!” Meena said.

Toward the end of his book, Hari successfully sounded out every word, even “enough.”

“The end,” Hari said, with a triumphant smile on his face.

“Good job!” Adam said. “That was a good book and you did a really good job reading it.”

The Book Buddy program runs weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon. The program will run until Friday, August 10 at the Main Library’s children’s room.