WOLFING DOWN BOOKS; WEATHERMAN WHETS KIDS' READING APPETITE.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

Television weatherman Christopher Nance brought along hand puppets Wolfy and Wahbah to kick off Palm Tree Elementary School's second annual Reading for Life Partnership.

Nine hundred pupils in kindergarten through fifth grade watched and listened as Nance talked about how great reading is and what prizes they can earn for reading a certain amount through the school year.

``You get a chance to read, and you can read about anything,'' Nance told the students in the voice of Wolfy, the reading wolf. ``You can read a book that takes you into outer space or you can read about animals like wolves.''

The program, which takes place at schools throughout Southern California, is designed to help kids develop a love of reading beyond their school years.

Each school sets a goal of how many books should be read. This year's goal at Palm Tree is 55,000.

Individual rewards, provided by Nance and NBC Studios, include certificates, NBC baseball caps and tickets to Magic Mountain. If the school reaches its collective goal, Nance and a cameraman will return to the school on May 26 and put all the students in a short clip on the news.

``There's nothing like putting kids on the news to make them feel like they're No. 1,'' Nance said. ``Their moms are proud of them, their dads are proud of them, their neighbors are proud of them. It's just a way of using the technology with the basic message of the importance of reading.''

Last year, Palm Tree set a goal of 50,000 books to be read. Students read more than 65,000.

``We want this to be a lifelong thing,'' said Principal Mary Wright. ``We don't want these kids to read because they have to but because they love it. Mr. Nance is the extra motivation these kids need to read a lot and to enjoy it.''

The program will continue until the end of the school year in June 2000.

Community volunteers will be invited each month to read to the youngsters.

Volunteers are expected to read to one or two children in 30-minute increments twice a week throughout the month.

Nance has volunteered with various community programs and agencies since 1982 and brought his community-service ideas to NBC in 1985.

In 1995, he began writing children's books. His books include ``Muhammad and the Marathon,'' ``Before There Were People'' and ``The Weatherman is Coming to My School Today.''

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Students at Palm Tree Elementary School listen to KNBC weatherman Christopher Nance and his puppet, Wolfy, talk about reading.

(2--Color) KNBC weatherman Christopher Nance sponsors Palm Tree's Reading for Life program.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer