Whiz Kid: Extraordinary Reader Logs More Than 600 Reading Counts Points

Each week, Mehlville Patch highlights a young person in the community who is making a positive difference in the lives of others. These kids are doing outstanding academic work, winning an award or exhibiting exemplary qualities. Know a great kid? Nominate them by e-mailing sarah.flagg@patch.com

Name: Justin Crawford

Age: 8

School: Beasley Elementary School

Achievement: Justin has logged more than 600 Reading Counts points this school year.

Key to Awesomeness: Justin Crawford is an avid reader. He enjoys all of The Magic Tree House series, The Chronicles of Narnia books and Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole. He is very often seen with a book in his hands.

This year Justin was involved in a Mehlville School District reading incentive program called Reading Counts. He read more than 60 books and passed a quiz on each one, resulting in a total of 600 points. 

At school, his favorite subject is math, but he enjoys them all.

“Math is fun and hard. It’s the hard part that makes it so much fun,” Justin said.

Justin plays flag football, basketball and baseball. He enjoys being part of a team and making new friends.

Since 2008, Justin has been taking guitar lessons from Zarkie Music and serenading his cat Simon. He will be playing a Star Wars rendition on his electric guitar in the upcoming Beasley Elementary School talent show. In addition, he will be performing in a skit with his Cub Scout den and narrating his class skit.

Right now, Justin is a Wolf in Boy Scouts. This summer he will begin working on his Bear badge and plans to attend Beaumont Boy Scout Camp, as well as a chess and football camp.

At home, Justin’s favorite pastime is climbing the tree in his front yard.