Published: September 22, 2009 07:27 pm      

No longer first 09/23/09

Hawaii soars past Kentucky in Internet book competition

In one of his many words of wisdom, the late baseball great Satchell Paige advised, “Don’t look back — someone may be gaining on you.”

Well, in Kentucky’s current efforts to again secure the top spot in the annual First Books What Got You Hooked online campaign, another state not only is gaining on Kentucky, it has surpassed it.

For most of September, Kentucky has been in a tight race with Oklahoma for the top spot, but there now is a surprise new contender: Hawaii. In just the last few days, Hawaii has passed both Kentucky and Oklahoma to take lone possession of first place. But there still is a chance for Kentucky to claim the top prize because voting does not end until Sept. 23.

Bill Burch, who serves on the First Books board in Boyd County, knows the value of winning the competition.

“We usually get three books per child and they are nice hardback books,” Burch said. It encourages people to read. These children take pride in having their own books.”

By Kentucky winning last year’s competition, about 10,000 books were received in Boyd County alone, Burch said. That’s why he is encouraging anyone who is willing to listen to him to take the time to vote in the competition.

Here’s how: Call up www.firstbook.org/whatbook. Individuals can vote one time per day through Wednesday, Sept. 30.

The books go to children, not schools. If the state wins, it will receive 50,000 new books to encourage children to read. Obviously, Hawaii is encouraging its residents to vote. We’re asking Kentuckians to do the same.

It’s not that we have anything against the children in Hawaii or any other state, but we suspect the number of Kentucky children who do not own a single book is higher than in most other states.