PINE RIVER — Former Pine River-Backus School teacher Linda Henkel, of Pine River, recently started offering "reading buddies" for children stopping by to pick up books at her home behind Pine River Family Market.

Henkel, who retired from teaching after 47 years in 2021, continued to advocate for literacy from her home. There, with help from former coworkers, she started Henkel's House of Books - two small, weatherproof boxes with books. The books are free to any child who wants to read.

Now, approximately a year later, she has added piles of stuffed animals, free for children who want a book and someone to read to. This is sort of an extension of her reading program in school. There, any student who read 20 books could pick a stuffed animal to take home.

"I thought, what am I going to do with all these stuffed animals I had for my reading program?" Henkel said. "I decided free books, free stuffed animals. I added a little sign that says, 'Take me home to be my friend.' Maybe a month ago I started putting them out here."

She puts out about 64 stuffed animals each day and brings them inside at night, or if bad weather is on the horizon. At the end of the day there's usually 10-15 fewer animals on the bench.

"I'd pick up these stuffed animals at garage sales or they'd be on sale cheap at the store," Henkel said. "Now I've got so many I've got to get rid of them."

Henkel serves as a reading buddy for some of her students, including Keyandre Smith. Keyandre has long enjoyed her stuffed animal incentives.

"I have, like, 50, so I kind of feel bad," Keyandre said, grinning.

Keyandre's mother, Anna Smith, said Henkel is the reason her son is the voracious reader he is today. Smith, Keyandre and Henkel all remember when he read over 130 books one year in her class.

"I'd like to take credit for his great reading ability, but it's Miss Henkel," Smith said. "She started with Keyandre when he was in the first grade. In a short amount of time she had him well above his reading level. The next year he didn't get to read with her every day,"

Keyandre was somewhat disappointed when he no longer had to take classes with Henkel. Smith said she worried he might fake having trouble with reading just so he could spend time in Henkel's class. Even though he immediately advanced out of Henkel's class, they maintain a bond to this day, five years later and in spite of her retirement.

"When the pandemic hit we were so blessed because he got to read with Miss Henkel on FaceTime because she was his teacher that year," Smith said. "It never ended. From the patio to the porch and then FaceTime when winter comes and they continue to read. His love of reading will sustain him the rest of his life."

Keyandre's favorite book is "Black Beauty." They are currently working their way through a book called "Titanic." Smith said Keyandre has every stuffed animal from Henkel on a shelf by his bed.

Keyandre reads to Henkel almost every single day, sometimes in person, but often over FaceTime. When Henkel isn't available, he reads to his stuffed animals.

"I read 120 minutes every week," Keyandre said.

Unfortunately, at around 2 p.m. Sunday, July 3, Linda Henkel's benches were stolen from her front yard.

Henkel not only uses the benches as a place to hold the free stuffed animals, but as a place for children to sit and read books from her selection.

Henkel's name is on the bottom of the benches. She hopes someone with information will either return the benches or help lead police to find them. Any information should be given to the Pine River Police Department.

Travis Grimler is a staff writer for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis.grimler@pineandlakes.com.