Bill Graham / The Meridian StarKindergarteners Carter McIntosh, Jamaj Carter and Breleigh-Kate Wolfe check out their copies of Highlights Magazine during Literacy Day at West Hills Elementary School in Meridian on Friday.

Members of the community expressed their care about reading and children on Friday by reading to students in Meridian’s public elementary schools.

In recognition of International Literacy Day, which is Saturday, volunteers read books such as “How to Give a Mouse a Cookie” and “Pete the Cat” to attentive students. The Meridian Public School District and The Meridian Star sponsored the event for a second consecutive year, inviting members of the community to volunteer their time to read to students.

A goal of the day is to raise awareness about reading and letting children know that it is fun. More than 100 volunteers read to students in grades Pre-K through fifth.

Students, also, were given Highlights, a magazine for kids, that was provided by The Meridian Star and furnished through MagLiteracy.org.

Alexander Gould, publisher of The Meridian Star, said the event provides an opportunity for members of the business community, private citizens and educators to highlight the importance of literacy. 

“We are thankful to all our community members who volunteer their time and energy to share with the Meridian elementary students,” Gould said. 

Dustin Markham, a Meridian attorney, said it’s important for members of the community to come out and give back, no matter if you are mom, dad or a business owner. 

“Our kids need to see us,” Markham said.

Jeffrey Willis, of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, said he read because it allowed him to be a positive role model to the kids. He read to a third grade class and afterward the students asked him what it was like to be a police officer.

Student Aaliyah Grant-Tims said she learned from Willis and the book. 

Thomas Huebner, president of Meridian Community College, said he believes that anytime he can come and read to  children, it  gives him a chance to provide them with an academic opportunity. Huebner described the students as being awesome because they listened when he asked them questions, and they were engaged with the book.

“I couldn’t be more impressed,” Huebner said.

Meridian High School athletes were among the more popular readers. Baseball player Jadabian Morris said he thought that it was cool after he read to Mrs. Smith’s fourth grade class. Morris gave out lollipops to students who provided the correct answers to his questions.

Tekeliya Starks, a fourth grader, said she liked the book because the cat had a big hat and she liked the snow. Starks said she likes the snow even though it doesn’t snow often in Mississippi.

Brooke Knight, principal at West Hills Elementary School, said it it is important to get kids interested in reading and let them to know that reading is the key to everything and finding success. 

Knight said when children see people in the community reading, the kids will love reading, too. The books can take them to places they may not be able to go.

Knight said it’s important to read to kids everyday, not just on International Literacy Day.

Erica Turner, who read the book “Pete the Cat,” to kindergarten students said she felt amazing because she loves working with kids. Describing how the kindergarten class gave her so much attention because they were interested in what she was saying. 

“You can be creative character when you are reading to them,” Turner said.

Turner said she chose “Pete the Cat” because she used to be a kindergarten teaching assistant and the students loved that book. Turner said the community should let children understand that reading can take you a lot further than cell phones and playing games.

“You want to remind them to stick their head in a book and read,” Turner said.