COEUR d’ALENE — Kicking back with a good book is one way to stay cool this summer.

"Reading is one of my favorite subjects," incoming Canfield Middle School seventh-grader Chloe France said.

Chloe and other older students are volunteering their time to help younger kids build their literacy skills during the Coeur d'Alene School District's #CDAReads summer reading program, which had its first event Tuesday.

"I joined because I thought it would be fun to help out other kids who have a hard time reading,” Chloe said. "I think it would be really fun to hang out with the younger kids."

More than 800 pre-identified K-5 students have been invited to attend two-hour #CDAReads sessions twice a week in June and July. Students will be transported by bus to Borah Elementary to read with mentors and enjoy music, games, STEM activities and lunch. They'll also get to select two new books to take home from every visit.

"The magic number, if they have seven books or more in the summer that they get to pick out, they’re more likely to read and stick to it over the summer," said Innovia Foundation's Opening Books, Opening Doors program manager, Amy Voeller.

Innovia Foundation is a nonprofit that works to improve access to education, promote health and wellbeing, support arts and culture, create economic opportunity and enhance quality of life. It's partnering with Parker Toyota to support #CDAReads by providing a $3,000 grant for books and programming.

Parker Toyota donated four bikes, helmets and locks to incentivize students to attend each session. Every time students attend, they'll add their names to the drawing for one of the bikes. The drawing will take place on the last day of the program, July 28.

To add to the fun, Parker Toyota's friendly canine mascots, yellow lab Sunny and golden retriever Maya, will be making celebri-dog appearances at the events.

"We’re hoping to get the kids excited about reading,” Parker Toyota operations manager Isaac Reinert said. "We thought the dogs would be a good way to do that."

Parker Toyota human resources director and Isaac's wife, Kyeli Reinert, said "when kids develop a love for reading and can read well by third grade, they are more likely to graduate high school and have greater opportunities to pursue after graduation.

"We thought bikes would be the perfect incentive to get the kids excited about reading," she said. "#CDAReads is the perfect program to promote healthy living and reading at an early age, and we are excited to partner with Innovia Foundation and the school district for this."

Info: www.innovia.org