First-grader reached 700 book mark

Blake Phillips, who will be a second-grader at Tonganoxie Elementary School in the fall, read 700 books as a first-grader.

Blake Phillips’ favorite book is “Ricky Ricotta’s Giant Robot.”

That might be a fitting favorite, considering Blake’s reading abilities border on the superhuman.

Blake, who will be a second-grader this fall at Tonganoxie Elementary School, read a whopping 700 books during first grade.

In December, Tonganoxie Superintendent Richard Erickson presented Blake with an outstanding reader award at a school board meeting. At the time, Blake had read 160 books since the beginning of school, at a time when classmates in TES teacher Jill Conrad’s class were averaging about 40.

But winning the award motivated Blake even more.

He set a goal of 400.

Then it fell.

Next was 500. Then 600. And, finally, 700.

“I set more goals,” Blake said. “Because that was just at the beginning of the school year, so I knew I could read more.”

According to his father, Blake started reading books that were 10 to 15 pages long, but at the end of the school year, he was reading books in the 30- to 40-page range.

“And he read some chapter books that were more lengthy,” Shawn Phillips said.

For instance, “Ricky Ricotta’s Giant Robot,” by Dav Pilkey, is a 112-page book.

In fact, Blake liked Pilkey’s book so much that he read all of his other works as well.

“He read all the books by that author, and he was mad,” Blake’s mother, Tonya, said with a laugh. “He wanted to call the author and tell him to write some more.”

Dedicated reader

Blake has other interests besides reading.

His also enjoys playing baseball. His dad recently accepted the head basketball coaching job at his alma mater – Tonganoxie High School – where he also will teach science.

But no matter how into sports he gets, Blake wants to be reading a book.

The Phillips family went to the Kansas University football game against Missouri last fall on a very cold Saturday evening at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. When the family returned to Tonganoxie after fighting postgame traffic, Blake wanted to read a book before turning in for the night.

“Sometimes he would be so drowsy, he would be nodding off but would still want to read,” Tonya said about some late-night reading sessions.

Like her husband, Tonya is in education. A former elementary school teacher, Tonya now is grants coordinator for the De Soto school district.

An author himself

Blake has written a couple short books himself – one about going to school and another about riddles and rhymes.

Asked about what he would like to do when he grows up, he responded: “Get a job.”

More specifically, he has his eye on a few careers: chef, building designer or geologist.

In the meantime, he plans to keep reading, with an eye on finishing larger books as a second-grader.

Blake said he was thankful for his parents, as well as his teachers.

“They taught me how to read, and I appreciate that,” Blake said.

As he was rattling off his list of people to thank, his younger brother, Caden, chimed in.

“And your brother,” Caden said.

Blake then thanked his brother, who listened as Blake read several books during the past school year.