When I visit with students and other young people, I often ask about the books they are reading. Reading enriches our lives, whether the books teach an academic subject matter, inform about people, places, and events, or simply keep minds active and engaged in life-long learning. I think it is important to always be reading a book.

Book lists are a popular way to call attention to books with particular merit. A few years ago, I created my own reading list for military officers and those interested in national security issues. This list is available on my website at www.house.gov/skelton. Recently, a book list was released by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) that should be of interest to young people and school and public libraries across the country.

The National Endowment for the Humanities' "We the People Bookshelf" highlights a short list of classic books for young readers. Working in partnership with the American Library Association, NEH selects books that share a theme important to the nation's heritage. For 2007, the program focuses on the theme of "Created Equal" and identifies 17 books appropriate for students from kindergarten through high school.

The purpose of the "We the People Bookshelf" is to encourage young people to read classic literature and explore the ideas and ideals of America. Examples of the books on this year's list include: The Ugly Duckling, by Hans Christian Andersen; The Gettysburg Address, by Abraham Lincoln; Give Me Liberty! The Story of the Declaration of Independence, by Russell Freedman; Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution, by Natalie S. Bober; and Lincoln's Virtues: An Ethical Biography, by William Lee Miller.

According to Bruce Cole, the Chairman of NEH, "the 'Created Equal' Bookshelf provides opportunities for young people to explore what the Revolutionary generation meant when it declared that 'all men are created equal.'"

NEH is now accepting applications from school and public libraries across the nation to participate in the "We the People Bookshelf" program. NEH will award copies of the 17 books in the "We the People Bookshelf" to 3,000 eligible libraries. Libraries will also receive an interactive CD-ROM and poster-sized documents and photographs relevant to the "Created Equal" theme. In return for receiving a Bookshelf, these libraries will organize programs and events to make their community aware of the importance of reading classic literature and the themes of the "We the People Bookshelf." The application deadline for this year's program is January 25, 2008.

In addition to helping students develop a love of reading, this program enables readers to learn and think about the special qualities that make our country unique in the world. Although many of the books on the list are quite challenging, NEH hopes to involve parents, teachers, librarians, mentors, and others in talking to children about these books. A complete list of the "We the People Bookshelf" and additional information about NEH can be found online at www.neh.gov and www.WethePeople.gov.

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