Leif holding his latest book club choice. (Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today )

By Dylana Kneeshaw

THUMPER'S BOOK CLUB

School bus driver and student boosting their reading habits with newly-founded book club

Apr 20, 2022 | 2:05 PM

CHASE, B.C. — Along the winding, rural roads on the way to Haldane Elementary School in Chase, a new book club has been formed. Its founding members include third-grade student Leif Erickson, and school bus driver Randy Trowsse.

There’s about ten minutes before the next stop on the bus route after Leif is picked up. Usually, he and Trowsse spend that time chatting, watching wildlife, from the small school bus they’ve named, ‘Thumper’.

“I’ve known him since kindergarten, so I’ve known Randy for three years,” explains Erickson.

The idea for ‘Thumper’s Book Club’ was formed several months ago after the third-grader had mentioned to Trowsse that he struggled to get into reading.

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“So it made me think you know, ‘what can I do for this little guy to help him with his reading?'”, says Trowsse. “So I talked to my wife about it and we came up with maybe starting a little book club that might inspire him.”

Over the past few months they’ve gotten into a routine: Leif will pick a book to read, and then bring it on the bus for Randy’s turn.

“Typically we’ll both read the book, and then we’ll chat about it for our ten or fifteen minutes in the morning,” explains Trowsse. “And yeah it’s been great. it’s been great for me as well.” Since the club began, the pair have read more than a dozen books.

“Me and Randy like to read easy books, not that kind of (that are) hard,” says Erickson, who says he feels like his reading has improved. “But (for) me in general, my favourite kind of books are like starter chapter, comedy books.”

‘Thumper’s Book Club’ is open to new members, with another student joining in to read some of the books brought on the bus. And word about their reading has spread through the village.

“It’s definitely exciting,” says Trowsse. “A local organization in Chase has reached out now and they’re going to supply us with some books for Leif, which he can keep, because we’re getting down on his book collection.”

At the end of the day, the goal is to encourage literacy. But the shared reading has also created a better friendship between the bus driver and his passenger.

“He (Randy) is a nice guy, probably one of the nicest people I’ve met for sure,” says Erickson.

“I get equally as much out of it as Leif does. I mean I have children of my own, but no grandchildren. But yeah, just to see him progress has been a lot of fun for me. It’s been really good,” adds Trowsse.