By PATRICK CLOONAN
Daily News Staff Writer
pcloonan@dailynewsemail.corn

Somebody is stealing states. Literally. Or at least literately.

As if Carmen Sandiego touring the world to snatch great monuments and other treasures wasn't enough, now someone has stolen Delaware and Vermont, and the FBI needs the kids at Auberle in McKeesport to find the culprits and stop them before the entire United States disappears.

Auberle youngsters who can find the clues and identify the villain will be known as the "World's Greatest Readers."

For every three books or 300 pages a youngster reads, he or she will get a villain clue, as well as a clue to save another state from disappearing.

"You get clues to eliminate suspects,” Auberle Glenn Ryerson said.

The eight characters under suspicion are Mean Matilda, Poisonous Patty, Destroyer Dan, Vicious Victor, Slithering Sam, Sly Sarah, Crude Curt, and Horrible Hannah.

"You also get to save a state every time you get a clue," Ryerson said. "It's like a riddle you have to solve to know what state you're saving."

Each time a goal is attained, the reader comes one step closer to solving the mystery and saving the country. There will be more than 400 youngsters ages 7-17 setting out to find the culprit this summer.

"We're going to do it as part of our summer education program with the kids," Ryerson said, "but the kids have the option of reading the books they want to read outside of
class as well. So it's really up to them."

The program got under way with the McKeesport center's educational banquet Wednesday. The quarterly event brought together Auberle students, parents and staff for a summer picnic and an awards ceremony to honor the spring semester's outstanding students.

In all, the summer program will require diving into 1,500 pages or 15 books. Each youngster who finishes the required number of books or pages will be invited to a party at the end of summer, when four winners will be chosen at random for $50 grand prizes.

There will be a new clue each week through Aug. 12.

Visit www.auberle.org. for more information about Auberle programs.