(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Layla Salinas has always loved stepping into the world of a good book. Whether it was fairy tales, mysteries, or graphic novels, she was drawn to adventures bigger than herself. But she started to wonder—what about the kids who hadn’t yet discovered that kind of magic?
As a student in the civics action program at Royal High School, developed in partnership with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Layla set out to change that. She focused on something close to her heart: showing kids that reading can be a source of joy, curiosity, and connection.
To mark Read Across America Week in March, Layla organized a reading day at Hollow Hills Elementary School and invited local community leaders to join in. Simi Valley Mayor Dee Dee Cavanaugh was among them, reading I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! to a second-grade class and When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left to fourth graders. Layla made sure the readers knew: don’t forget to show the pictures.
Cavanaugh was impressed with Layla’s kindness and initiative. Layla had reached out to her to ask if she’d come to Hollow Hills—a school the mayor herself once attended—to read to students. “She was all prepared and professional,” Cavanaugh said. “We met with the librarian, and then the students came.”
Cavanaugh, a lifelong book lover, said that while screens have become a big part of how people read today, there’s something about holding a real book that can’t be replaced. “Personally, I think reading is very important,” she said. “Reading on a screen is not the same as having a book in your hands and turning the pages. To me, there is a peace to it.”
Throughout the school, Layla had created a festive and welcoming atmosphere. She decorated the halls with handmade posters and set up interactive displays—including a “What Genre Should You Read?” quiz where students could discover whether they might enjoy fantasy, mystery, sci-fi, or nonfiction.
“Kids shouldn’t have to think of reading as a chore—it’s an adventure,” Layla said. “I want to show them that there’s more to reading than just the words on the page. There are entire worlds to explore and characters to meet.”
Her project wasn’t just about encouraging kids—it was about sharing the power of the written word. Layla gave students a chance to see leaders in their community celebrating books out loud, with joy and warmth.
Now, she’s expanding that effort. Layla is partnering with Books in the Woods, a nonprofit that supports youth literacy and creativity, to launch a new initiative: Young Voices Read. The goal is to reach even more young readers and build a community where storytelling is shared, encouraged, and loved.
To support Layla’s project, follow @booksinthewoodsnonprofit on Instagram or visit booksinthewoodsnonprofit.org/young-voices-read to learn more or donate.
