Caroline Purnell has been a GrandPal for the past two years. She is retired from teaching French, Spanish, and ESL for adults, and embodies a deep passion for travel and multiculturalism.

This year as a GrandPal has been special for me since I am able to read to my granddaughter as well as one of her classmates. There is so much joy reading to Mabel and Stella, and they enjoy reading to me from time to time! Once, we made up our own stories, which was a lot of fun. For me, it’s a half hour of smiles, laughter, giggles, and wonder. At the end of each session, I watch as a class of kindergartners leaves the library with huge smiles on their faces. I think the GrandPals have even bigger smiles on their faces!