ZILWAUKEE, Mich. -- Students at Zilwaukee Elementary School got some chills down their spine Thursday as they kicked off this year's "Read It Out" program.

Third- and fourth-grade students read a story by Michigan native Jonathan Rand. He's the author of the Michigan Chillers book series.

Students will also have a chance to send Rand a question each week.

“By the end of the program, we’re hoping that their reading ability increases,” said Zilwaukee Elementary School teacher Jodi Decuf. “But overall, we just want them to enjoy reading, so if we found something that caught their attention and pulled them into the love of reading, we couldn’t be happier.”

Zilwaukee Elementary is one of four area schools participating in the program this year.