Video: Aberdeen Families Bond Through Reading Program

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ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi Humanities Council is helping Aberdeen families bond through a reading program.

The Tenn-Tom Moving Youth group in Aberdeen participated in a six-week literacy program called Family Reading Bonds. Children ages six to 10 had the opportunity to interact with a storyteller to make selected books come alive. Terri Skeels wanted both of her children to participate.

“We heard that this program would a lot of Caldecott winners and Newberry Award winners and that’s just important to our family, to read excellent literature,” says Skeels.

The reading program is made possible by the Mississippi Humanities Council. David Morgan, special projects director with MHC, brought the program to Aberdeen.

“They read the book and come back the next week and we have the story teller present the stories. Then have a discussion leader talk about the theme with the families and hopefully this will encourage them to want to read more together,” says Morgan.

The books read are grouped into themes like greed, fairness, courage and determination. Parent Yesha Gardner says the program has encouraged her to place more emphasis on reading with her son.

“It was the first time experience. It makes me want to encourage him to read more. I hope we can experience this again,” says Gardner.

Each session included community infomercials sponsored by Cadence Bank, BancorpSouth, the health department and the local library. Family Reading Bonds is also partnered with Aberdeen Main Street.