This week I was a guest speaker at Orangewood Elementary School for the 7th Annual Literacy Day, hosted by the City of Phoenix. I was one of 66 volunteers, including the Mayor of Phoenix, Phil Gordan. More than 90 head start classrooms were visited by volunteers who read the book Hop Jump by author/illustrator Ellen Stoll Walsh. I was greeted by my friends at Orangewood Elementary with excited eyes and open ears. The book "Hop Jump" is about a frog named Betsy who wants to dance while all of the other frogs want to hop and jump. Betsy teaches everyone that you can do both! After we finished our story time, the students and I did a light stretch, then began to hop, jump, & dance. It was quite the work out. Each child went home with their very own I <3 Bookmans t-shirt to hop, jump, and dance around their house in, to remember Literacy Day. My favorite part of the morning? When a student asked if I was going to play with them at recess.

It is incredibly exciting to read to a group of three- to five-year-olds. If you are ever having a bad day at work or just feel the need to lend a helping hand, find a school and volunteer. Read a story and create an activity. It is rewarding, refreshing, and you will definitely walk away feeling like a very special person. You are the hero that day.