Visitor reads to Magnolia Early Childhood Education Center Pre-K students to celebrate Read Across America Day

ALBANY, Ga. – I’m outside Magnolia Early Childhood Education Center, where some lucky Pre-K students just got a very special visitor in their classrooms. And, a wonderful book to take home and enjoy.

Read Across America Day may have been March 2nd, but the celebration is still going strong in classrooms across the community. At one local Pre-K, students got a special surprise; not just extra reading time, but brand-new books to take home.

Becky Belcher and Georgia’s Own Credit Union donated 125 books to the young readers. But, the gifts didn’t stop there. Becky also read her debut children’s book, “Josey’s Adventure”, while dressed as the beloved “Cat In the Hat.”

The book was written during the pandemic and marks Becky’s first step into the world of children’s literature.

“I’ve always wanted to be an author and illustrate a book, and this was perfect timing. I’m glad I work for an organization that believes the same thing and wants to help out. Especially with these barricades. If you saw their faces, you got to dress the part, get in there, let them actually get, you know, happy and excited about reading. That’s the whole thing. And once you put it in their hands, they can go to their bookshelves at home and pull it back out and remember the experience,” said Becky Belcher, Author of “Josey’s Adventure”.

Reading to children is nothing new for her, she’s been volunteering her time to share stories with kids for the past 20 years.

Her goal goes beyond today’s visit or even her book. She hopes these Pre-K students will grow up with a love for reading and cherished memories of story time.

“Watching the kids get excited… And, this is an experience I think they’ll remember, ten years from now, 20 years from now, I want them to take it back and go, hey, remember during Pre-K, I had this lady come in and she was dressed as Doctor Seuss. She gave us a book. I still have it. I want that book to be something that they share with their children, like I have in my family. And, I really believe strongly that if we can get these kids to enjoy reading at an early age, it will continue on because it’s the truth. If you love reading, you can do anything,” said Belcher.

Becky will visit Morningside Pre-K next, bringing the same excitement and love for reading to students at the school.

Gabe Hutton reporting.

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