Yellowknife (May 15/06) - Reading at home is just as important as reading at school, say educators.

But what happens if you don't have any books?

Caelly Simpson, special projects co-ordinator for The Genesis Group, a subsidiary of Nunasi Corporation, is looking to change that.

Simpson is heading up two projects to bring free books to Northern communities in the NWT and Nunavut, sponsored by companies in the North.

"It's an excellent program where kids benefit," said Simpson.

The unique part of the program is the kids get to choose which books they want.

Students in the Kitikmeot region in Nunavut and the North Slave region in the NWT get to choose from a list of 45 different books for children of all ages.

More than 1,830 students from both regions are able to spend up to $30 each. The total cost of both projects could cost almost $55,000.

Titles include popular children's books and novels, like "Hot, Cold, Shy, Bold" by Pamela Harris, "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen, and Northern reads like "The Polar Bear's Gift" by Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak.

Principal Michael Ewen of Elizabeth Mackenzie elementary school in Behchoko (Rae-Edzo) said the program goes above and beyond other literacy endeavours in the North.

"The children choose three to four high quality story books they get to use in the home," said Ewen.

He said students get excited that the books are wrapped and addressed to them personally, rather than just handed out.

Ewen said this is a good way to encourage students to read in the home. This is the first year for the project in Nunavut, and the fourth year for the NWT.

Simpson said students who participate every year can build a personal library, one that can be shared or added to if there are siblings in the households. Books are chosen for the list by consulting community principals and teachers before the list goes out.