By Blake Deshazo

The Selma Times-Journal 

The man in the big red suit is coming to town a few days early this year to give children a gift that Reading Is Fundamental hopes lasts a lifetime.

RIF is holding its annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 20 from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center.

“We would like to give the children a gift that’s important,” said RIF coordinator Nancy Sewell. “Families and friends will give them material things, but we’re giving them the books, and books provide the foundation of knowledge.”

Santa and his friends — Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George and Franklin the Turtle — will read to children and help them discover the joy of reading, according to Sewell.

“When children are small we try to capture their minds, whet their appetite and develop their love and appreciation of books and reading,” Sewell said. “Hopefully, it will make lifelong readers out of them.”

During the event children and their families will be served breakfast that will feature one of Dr. Seuss’ famous dishes, green eggs and ham.

Sewell believes that developing a strong love for reading will benefit children as they grow older.

“If they can read well, they normally can master anything,” Sewell said. “They can do well in their science, history and they can write well, too. It is just so fundamental to their future.”

Sewell hopes the nonprofit can make an impact on children when there are so many other options available to them.

“In this day and age when we are competing with electronics, we have to promote reading,” Sewell said. “It develops knowledge, and it develops the brain.”

For more information on Reading Is Fundamental’s Breakfast with Santa, contact Jacinta Bright or Nancy Sewell at 875-2481.

“We seen numerous faces that return every year that are excited about books,” said RIF chairperson Cynthia Bright. “They come back and tell us the books that they have read, and it’s just so exciting to see them interested in reading.”