Yesterday, the students at R.L. Brown Academy in the Historic Eastside received not one but two special treats: yesterday was READ USA Book Fair day – giving each student two FREE, brand-new books to build their at-home libraries – AND they received a visit from News4Jax’s Melanie Lawson!
READ USA is honored and grateful to be selected as News4Jax’s Positively Jax organization for April and May. As part of this, News4Jax is airing several commercials to help spread awareness of READ USA’s Book Fairs and our need for volunteers (maybe you have seen them?!). But the icing on the cake was Melanie joining us LIVE from R.L. Brown during The Morning Show yesterday! We are so thankful for the stories she and the News4Jax team aired throughout the morning – and the students had so much fun getting to meet and talk with Melanie. She is truly a community ambassador in every sense of the word!
Many thanks to R.L. Brown Academy’s Principal Mrs. Kincaid, 5th-grade reading teacher Mrs. Walter, our amazing volunteers and staff, and our very own READ USA Board Member Dr. Rudy Jamison for interviewing with Melanie and helping make the whole morning run smoothly!
Children’s Book: Jayden’s Impossible Garden, by Melina Mangal
Illustrated by Ken Daley
Jayden’s Impossible Garden is a timeless story of intergenerational friendships and the power of imagination and determination in bringing a vision of a community garden to life. Jayden, a young boy, sees nature everywhere, even in the middle of the city. He watches squirrels searching for food, cardinals calling, and dandelions growing. His Mama doesn’t see what Jayden sees and believes “there is no nature in the middle of the city.” With the help of his friend, Mr. Curtis, Jayden creates a magical garden, full of flowers, birds, nests, and butterflies. Jayden brings together his neighbors – and Mama – to experience the magic of nature in the middle of the city. Jayden’s love of nature can inspire all of us to see our surroundings as overflowing with opportunities for growth and connection.
Jayden’s Impossible Garden may also be enjoyed as a read-aloud by Alex Elias, President of The Rotaract Club of Jacksonville’s Beaches. The read-aloud is available on the READ USA website here.
Submitted by Kathi Hart, Tutoring Program Content Specialist