A unique program to help and encourage parents to read books to their pre-school children will be unveiled Friday, June 27, at Sissonville Elementary School. The Family Storyteller program, a vision of First Lady Sandy Wise, will be piloted this summer at the Sissonville school, as well as select schools in Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Raleigh, Upshur, Webster, Wirt and Wood counties.

Family Storyteller is administered by the West Virginia University Extension Service. A $40,000 grant from Verizon Foundation, which will be awarded Friday, will allow the program to expand to other counties in the fall.

• WHEN * : Friday, June 27, 9:30 a.m.

• WHERE :* Sissonville Elementary

• WHO :* Gale Given, president, Verizon West VirginiaRuthellen Phillips, Energy Express director, WVU Extension Service

Susan Gamble, Family Storyteller coordinator, WVU Extension Service