AUBURN - Auburn students of all ages will now be able to read about how peace is being spread throughout Central Asia using education.

This week, students were given a New York Times best-seller, “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, to read this school year. The book has been adapted to young reader and storybook versions.

With a $3,000 grant from the Columbian Foundation of Auburn, the Auburn Education Foundation was able to provide all eight school buildings in the district with sets of each of the three versions of the book, said Annette Abdelaziz of the Auburn Education Foundation. More than 300 books were given to the district. Books were delivered to the schools this week and teachers will begin to use them in classes immediately and throughout the school year, said Abdelaziz.

“They just appeared,” said Anne Mlod, library media specialist at Genesee Elementary School. “It was like Christmas.”

Auburn High School received primarily the original and young reader versions of the book. Elementary schools will receive the storybook version - called “Listen to the Wind” - the young reader edition and some copies of the original book for teachers, said Abdelaziz.

With class sets of the books, no student is left out. “We usually don't get multiple copies of books,” said Mlod. “Kids connect better when they each have the chance to look at the book.”

The reason behind the books is to prepare students and teachers for a visit from Mortenson. He will speak in March 2010 as part of the Auburn Education Foundation's Inspirational Lecture Series. His biography, included in the series flyer from the Auburn Education Foundation, explains his story of trying to change the world by building and supporting schools in the Central Asian countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“(Mortenson's) story is so inspirational and can be shared with all age groups,” said Mlod. “I think it's wonderful that there are books for all interest levels.”

On Wednesday, Mlod and Genesee fifth-grade teacher Chris Rose were using the storybook version of the book to introduce Rose's students to the young reader edition. Students looked at photographs of Mortenson's trips to Central Asia, which are in the storybook. They jotted down questions they had about the story, which they thought might be answered in the young reader book.

Rose discussed the differences between the students in the story, who used sticks to write their lessons in the sand, and her own class.

“The kids seemed to really like (the book),” said Rose. “They are very curious about the culture. I explained to them that it isn't weird or bad - just different. (The book) is not just about a man who helped build a school. They're also learning about a completely different culture. They start to realize how lucky they are to have a school.”

Students spoke in class about their feelings for the underprivileged children from remote parts of Pakistan featured in the story.

“I think everybody should try to give as much as we can to kids in Pakistan,” said fifth-grader Anthony Westmiller. “They don't have a lot.”

Austin Janes said he was grateful for Mortenson's work in Central Asia.

“I want to thank Greg Mortenson for helping the people in Pakistan,” said Janes, “for giving them books and pencils for school so they can learn.”

Johnathan Wilkes, another student in the class, has high hopes for Genesee Elementary, based on the school's service project last year, during which students raised $1,803 for the Hope for Ariang School Project.

“Last year we raised (the money) all in pennies and gave it to Sudan so they could build a school,” Wilkes said. “Maybe we can raise enough this year to get technology for the school.”

The Auburn Education Foundation believes Auburn students can glean many lessons from Mortenson's story in different areas of education, such as character development, geography, English and political science.

Staff writer Kelly Voll can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or kelly.voll@lee.net