Author Angela Harris of Danville, Va. visited Oakwood Elementary School kindergarteners Feb. 11, performing for them her book 'Night Light' with the help of her friend, Alice Roberts.
Children crowded around Harris' set, gazing at the array of colors during the reading, listening intently as the mother in the story tried desperately to get her daughter ready for bed.
"I wrote 'Night Light' about two years ago," Harris said. "The idea came from my experiences with my own children trying to get them to bed, playing hide and go seek and getting ready for bath time."
Looking everywhere for the little girl, the mother in the story finally asked the night light if he has seen where her daughter might he hiding, as a snicker is heard, 'Mommy, you know night lights can't talk," the little girl said.
After discovering the child's whereabouts the two prepare for bathtime with students helping decide which toys the girl would take to play with in the tub.
"I had always liked to write but I had forgotten about it until a friend reminded me so I started jotting stuff down and then I took a creative writing course at DCC and that's how it began." Harris said.
"I love to see kids get excited about the story. When I first got here they were looking at the set and all the colors and when I do book signings the children flip through book and read and giggle and that is a great feeling."
Students also enjoyed volunteering to help Harris tell the story from helping look for the little girl hiding from bedtime to counting bath toys and catching bubbles flying out of the tub.
"Reading is very important because you need reading for everything," Harris said.
"No matter what you do, even if you are just driving your car you will need to read the signs that say 'Stop' and it is never too early for them to start learning and begin taking those steps towards reading on their own."
Harris will be donating a copy of one of her books to the library at Oakwood Elementary so that students of all ages can check out "Tabby's Great Adventure' or 'Night Light' and enjoy reading with their family at home.
For more information about Harris visit her Web site at www.angelascreativeworks.com or call her at (434) 728-1626.
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