What do 15 years, 75 books and over 6000 students have in common?  The answer is Mr. Michael Jenkins reading the Patricia Gallagher Children’s Choice Picture Book Award nominees to Grants Pass elementary students.  Patricia Gallagher is a retired professor of children’s literature who loves reading and has spent many years sharing that love with children.  Mr. Michael Jenkins has been sharing his love of children’s literature by presenting the books with unique voices for all the different characters.  He visits all of our elementary schools each spring.  This award is special because the winner is voted on by the children.   When Mr. Jenkins started reading these stories 15 years ago, his wife Susan was a 2^nd grade teacher at Highland Elementary School.  She told him she had found this award that someone should read to her class, no read to the 2^nd grade, no read to the whole school, but who could do that.  She then suggested that he should do it.  That was 15 years ago, it looks the same today as it did his first year of reading. When Mr. Jenkins was asked what his favorite part of this experience is he replied “all the hugs he receives from the students.” The book that stands out the most to him over the years is “The Man Who Walked Between the Towers” by Mordicai Gerstein. The students at Allen Dale hope he keeps coming back for many years to come