Hundreds of smiles arrived at the Selma Convention Center Saturday morning for Breakfast with Santa to hear some stories, nibble on breakfast and meet with Santa Claus. They also got to go home with a book of their very own, as part of the Reading is Fundamental belief that book ownership will spark an interest in reading.

The Zeta Eta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in collaboration with the city of Selma, the Dallas County Commission and Ameri-Corp sponsored the RIF Breakfast with Santa.

RIF coordinator, Nancy Sewell said she was happy to see the children arrive early and see how excited they were.

“Just seeing the excitement in the children’s eyes when they saw the books,” Sewell said about the most rewarding part of the annual breakfast. “They see Santa and Santa’s helpers it just brings joy in your heart it really does.”

Sewell said Breakfast with Santa began in 1993, so this year she is seeing another generation come in; some RIF children’s children attended the event Saturday.

“It’s just to hear the clatter the joy the laughter and the singing of the Christmas carols and while the old stories are told over and over again there is always a bit of excitement and amazement about,” she said.

The children pick out books to take home that were purchased by AKA with the help of the Dallas County Commission and the city of Selma. The thought is if children own their own books, they will feel reading is more special.

“We want to develop life long readers kids who enjoy reading books through the ownership of books,” Sewell said. “We hope they will cherish these books and read them and read them and read them.”

Children in attendance also got a glance of what the African American holiday Kwanza is all about when professional storyteller Sister Yomi told stories about giving and Santa’s Kwanza. She led the children in rhythmic Christmas carols and afterwards Selma Mayor George Evans read the crowd a book.

Children kept wandering to the table of more than 200 books and were trying to pick out one before they were allowed to do so. But volunteers said that kids that interested in books are a good problem to have.