MENIFEE -- In a world of Xbox and Wii, many children fill their free time behind a video console instead of between the pages of a book.

But a group of students at Evans Ranch Elementary School eschew that stereotype. They are members of a reading club that meets twice a week at the Menifee campus. The children give up their free time after lunch on Wednesdays and Fridays and read for 20 minutes.

A different book is started each month. On Wednesday, five students gathered with teacher Vanessa Westmoreland to read Judy Blume's "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing."

Westmoreland said 40 children came out when the group started in September with the book "Sarah, Plain and Tall."

Attendance was around a dozen in subsequent months, she said, as the group read "Because of Winn-Dixie" and then "Shiloh."

The five students Wednesday all came from Westmoreland's fourth-grade class. The teacher said participation varies based on what tracks are in session at the year-round school.

Daniela Pena, who has attended each session, said she doesn't mind giving up playtime after lunch to participate in the club.

"I really wanted to read a book so I can come up with AR points," the 9-year-old said, referring to the Accelerated Reader program, where students take tests about books they read and earn points that can ultimately lead to rewards.

Daniela said that besides the club, she reads 25 minutes a day at home.

Jonathan Sanchez, 10, was the only boy taking part Wednesday. He gave up his daily handball game to participate.

Jonathan said he joined to get his grades up.

The club started when Westmoreland, who oversees a morning running club at the campus, wanted to do something for readers.

"We want to get kids reading more," she said.

Westmoreland, who leads the club along with teacher Andie Wixom, does more than just read a story. She discusses it with the students, asks questions and has the children read along.

Westmoreland said it helps the students to see the words as she reads them and she hopes that will help improve their vocabulary. And, she said, she gets satisfaction when she see students apply something they learned in her class during the reading sessions.

Even some students can see the benefit of the group activity.

Emily Iwig, 9, joined the group for the first time Wednesday.

"I came so I could help my reading," she said."I thought it would be fun."

The club allows the children to explore a book in a smaller setting than a 30-plus student classroom, Westmoreland said.

"It's a more intimate feeling where they can share their feelings," she said. "The kids get an opportunity to just discuss the story. It exposes them to novels they wouldn't otherwise be reading."

Contact staff writer Craig Shultz at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2625, or cshultz@californian.com.