Plenty of clowns are coming to town to share the fun of reading.

Students from pre-school to the 12th grade are invited to the free Reading is Fundamental program to be held Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. each day at the Selma Convention Center.

Designed to encourage active reading, the event is a collaborative effort of the Zeta Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Women and Youth Services Inc., the Dallas County Commission, the Selma City Council and AmeriCorps.

“Reading opens the key to knowledge,” Nancy Sewell, a member of the Zeta Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, said. “It is the foundation for those that aspire to become the scientists, doctors, lawyer and police officers.”

Clifford, Curious George, Franklin the Turtle, Waldo and other famous book characters will make an appearance at the RIF program.

Free paperback books will be available, along with a chance to hear stories and laugh and play with the puppets.

The RIF program is the largest children’s literacy nonprofit in the United States, according to the organizations’ website.

Selma, who adopted the program in 1972, hosts three RIF programs each year to contribute to the overall goal to expand the youth’s opportunities through stressing the importance of reading.

According to the RIF website, nearly two-thirds of low-income families are without books, so RIF provides 15 million books annually to children who need them most.

“We’re calling all the parents and the kids in the area to come out and join the fun,” Sewell said.