| There was a group of children in one of the Seattle | | | | those quiet stories that would have remained in the |
| schools who came up with an idea. They wanted to | | | | dark had something bad not happened. A month ago, |
| turn sad things into happy things, find the positive in | | | | Mary Cooper and her daughter Susanna Stodden |
| the negative. The idea came about because when | | | | went for a hike in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie |
| you are in the third or fourth grade, life can be | | | | National Forest. They were found shot to death in a |
| sweet one moment, stale candy the next. One of | | | | double slaying that convulsed the region. |
| the girls in the group, Amy, who just turned 11, had a | | | | The unsolved murders particularly hit home for the |
| beloved pet bunny named Roger who died. The loss | | | | children at Decatur AEII Elementary School in North |
| still smarts.Through their informal club, Amy and her | | | | Seattle because Cooper was their librarian, the |
| school pals -- Jasmine, Chloe, Hailey, Annie, Madi and | | | | keeper of their stories, a smiling inspirer of their |
| Naomi -- would try to turn frowns upside down. The | | | | dreams. "Mary in the Library" -- as children sweetly |
| only question was how. | | | | christened her -- transformed an ordinary place into |
| The children thought about it. They decided that | | | | an extraordinary space. |
| books would become their tool for making a | | | | On a recent afternoon the school's library was |
| difference. School had deepened their love of books. | | | | summertime silent. Atop a wood table sat a |
| They respected the power of words on the printed | | | | cardboard box that held three dozen books, including |
| page -- no small feat in a television age. Books could | | | | one about brainy bunnies and another about that |
| offer stories with powerful messages, they knew, | | | | mischievous cooking pot. These were books -- along |
| and such messages could inspire. The girls asked | | | | with "Peter and the Starcatchers" and others -- that |
| people in their neighborhoods as well as the parents | | | | Cooper had on her wish list. |
| of classmates to donate toasters, baby toys and | | | | Her wish came true thanks to Amy, Jasmine, Chloe, |
| whatever they could for a big garage sale the first | | | | Hailey, Annie, Madi and Naomi -- along with everyone |
| week of June. They raised $400. | | | | who pitched in to help these Decatur students. After |
| The girls bought 36 books. They already had a home | | | | the unthinkable happened, the girls got together. |
| for them inside their elementary school library, where | | | | They crafted designs for a bookplate that will go |
| one wall features a poster from the 1963 March on | | | | inside each of the new books before school starts. |
| Washington and another bears a photo of the late | | | | The plate has a sun in one corner, a moon in another. |
| Coretta Scott King. Inspired by a school librarian, they | | | | It shows an open book with its front and back |
| worked as a team toward a goal. | | | | covers in view. One cover says "Mary" and the other |
| It is easy to miss such learning that occurs regularly | | | | says "Cooper." Down the spine are three words: "In |
| in the public schools. Budget woes, school closures | | | | Memory Of. Such a worthy tribute is one way a |
| and scandals involving high school hoops teams tend | | | | group of dedicated children is forging lasting good out |
| to make for juicier headlines. The book club is one of | | | | of a lingering horror. |