In an effort to encourage young readers, the Gazette-Journal will be taking part in the National Newspaper Association’s Reading Across the Nation project.

Starting next week, this newspaper will print “Lily’s Story,” a series of articles written by Carolyn Mueller, with illustrations by Nick Hayes, telling the story of Lily, a brave Weimaraner that becomes a search and rescue dog.

One day, Lily becomes very sick. Her recovery is a miracle, but her challenges are far from over. A month later, Lily’s bravery and resilience are put to the test as she is called upon to help put her city of Joplin, Mo., back on its feet after a devastating tornado.

This is a true story of hope and hometown heroes, celebrating the courageous spirit of one very special dog.

Keep an eye out for each of the eight chapters in this heartwarming story. Teachers who want to get their students involved are encouraged to check out the compan...