March is Reading Month!! Celebrity Reader here! :)

                                     What a welcome! They popped out of their seats and ran to me!

                                                  Introducing myself to my new friends!

                                                       Who doesn't love Curious George?!

                                                   Even Mrs. Bison loves Curious George!

                                              Mrs. Bison's first grade class! Great students!

                                       Signing autographs and answering LOTS of questions!

 It makes me feel good that children find me warm and friendly and not afraid to get close or even touch or hug me!

                                                          Love the hugs from little ones!

                                                            This is so precious to me!

                                 I have been taller than lockers since I was 12 years old at 5'8" tall!!

       Commerce Township Elementary School!

On the afternoon of Monday, March 19th, I had a wonderful time reading to first graders at Commerce Elementary School in Mrs. Bison's classroom!! What a warm welcoming group of students! No sooner had I walked in the door when 3 or 4 girls jumped out of ther seats to run and give me a hug! What a greeting!
I felt bad though because they were in the middle of a test, but it all worked out! And I was so glad the girls didn't get in trouble for getting out of their chairs!
I read a book from the Curious George series and one that we all enjoyed! After I finished the book I signed my autograph card to each of the 25 students and of course the teacher! During that time, I was asked several questions, that the class came up with, inquiring about my early reading experiences! What a fantastic opportunity to share with this class the daily struggles I had learning how to read. While others students were out playing at recess, or had after school sports, and activities, I had to stay in and practice reading. I missed out on alot. Even during the summer months I had to have special tutoring. It seemed like a lifetime before the lightbulb went off and it all began to click! They asked me: where do you read? What time of the day do you read? What are your favorite 'type' of books to read? And more. This allowed me to speak to those who are struggling with reading, just like I did, and I told them to keep at it and never give up on themselves whether it is reading or something else! Today I did my favorite thing to do: ENCOURAGE OTHERS!!!
My childhood favorite book is 'Tuck Everlasting' and when I told them that they and the teacher started nodding their heads as they all knew that book too (and probably the movie as well)! That was the book where I truly enjoyed reading for the first time and it is STILL one of my favorite books! I am now a lifetime reader and always read for the joy of it and not just reading for my college studies. I hope that you find time somewhere in your day to read just for fun too!
Of course they all (and boys too) wanted to know about Miss Lady of the Lakes pageant and "how I won that pageant." They also asked about the MAO and competing at Miss Michigan! I also told them about my work with Best Bones Forever and the National Osteoporosis Foundation!
I am scheduled to return to Commerce to read in several more classrooms and had to schedule some of those dates into April at the teachers request! I am more than fine with that. Stay tuned! :)