Bookworm plows through 1,600 books

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. -- Finding enough children's books to satisfy Joy Smith's voracious reading appetite has kept her mother and librarians busy.

The 7-year-old Blue Springs girl has plowed through more than 1,600 books since the beginning of June through a public library summer reading program.

Janice Smith, Joy's mother, said they are having to seek out other libraries and look on the Internet to find more books on Joy's grade level.

"We go to the library every day," Janice Smith said. "It just kind of snowballed from a few books a day to almost 40. She has been getting a lot of encouragement from the librarians."

Joy reads several hours a day -- the vast majority of the time on her own. She also reads together with her mother at night.

Her favorite books are part of a series about a dog named Carl and his adventures. She also likes reading Bible stories and Berenstain Bear books.

"It's just a lot of fun," Joy said. "I read a couple of hours a day, but I take breaks."

Smith said her daughter learned to read only last year and has quickly improved her speed and accuracy. She said although her four sons enjoyed reading as children, she said they were always too consumed with sports and other things to take as active an interest in it as Joy.

"She is doing really well, and I am pleased she has an interest and opportunity to read so much," Smith said. "She still has a chance to do other things like swimming and playing with her friends, but she does love to read."

Joy said although she likes to read, she thinks next summer she won't read as many.

"I don't think we will come here as often," she said. "Maybe once a week, but not once a day like now. I'll read bigger books."