They bring to life a giraffe, a tree and a leaf. They help children understand the start of the civil rights movement and help us all decipher what's a fruit, and what isn't.
A fire captain, a school teacher and a storyteller. A college basketball coach and the owner of Savannah's championship-winning baseball team. Together they've joined "Storytime with the Savannah Morning News," a week-long video series in which these locals support youth literacy by sharing their favorite children's books.
Let's face it, children have been through a lot over the past 18 months. The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a danger, but a drag, and kids are in the center of it as they return to school in these confusing times.
To do our part to help them pull through with their chins up, the Savannah Morning News is presenting Storytime. We hope you enjoy the experience, and good luck this year to all of the school children, educators and parents.
'Giraffes Can't Dance' read by Georgia Teacher of the Year, Cherie Dennis
"I am participating in Storytime with the Savannah Morning News to encourage families to read together because it is the perfect opportunity for parents to invest in a child's education. With the youngest children, adults can model early literacy skills for how to read, and as their children get older, increasingly complex comprehension skills can be nurtured, in addition to richer vocabulary," said Cherie Dennis, the 2021-22 Georgia Teacher of the Year and a teacher at Hesse K-8.
“But reading with your child is not only about academics. I also encourage families to do it because it is about connection. It is quality, quiet time together during which you can learn so much about your child in how they react to a book or the questions that they ask or the discussions that they start. Some of my fondest memories from growing up are from when my mother would read with me, and some of my fondest memories as a parent are from when I would read with my son.
“My favorite book when I was growing up was “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown. However, the book that I chose for Storytime with the Savannah Morning News is “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae. My son and I read it over and over when he was little. What I appreciate about it is how it encourages readers to embrace themselves as individuals and others as individuals, each with their own gifts and struggles. I love how it inspires confidence, acceptance, and inclusiveness”
Watch all of the Storytime videos here:
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah Morning News Storytime: Teacher of the Year winner reads 'Giraffes Can't Dance'
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