Pediatric Adolescent Medicine hosted it’s 2019 Reach Out and Read-Alabama (ROR-AL) event on Wednesday afternoon.

Pediatric Adolescent Medicine has participated in the program since 2008. Each year, the program provides children with free books and activities as well as a “prescription” to become involved in a reading program at a local library.

ROR-AL has a unique theme each year. For 2019, the theme is the state’s bicentennial. To stay true to this theme, the book read aloud to the children was “Alabama, My Home Sweet Home” by Charles Ghigna.

The book follows the journey of a bear cub named Camellia as she travels throughout the state and meets important Alabamians like Rosa Parks, Bo Jackson, Hellen Keller and hank Williams.

“We are excited to participate in the 2019 Rx for Summer Reading program for the 7^th time this year,” said Dr. Patricia Robinson of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine. “With the book, ‘Alabama My Home Sweet Home’ we have an opportunity for the children and families we serve to familiarize themselves with parts of the state that they may not have visited.”

Former Auburn University base baseball player Reid Carter read the book to the children in attendance Wednesday and encouraged them to read and better themselves.

“My name is Reid so I would always get teased,” said Carter. “They’d say ‘Hey Reid, why don’t you go read a book?’ I want to tell you today to never let anyone discourage you from reading and trying to become a better person.”