Saturday Read-In features music, dance, a salute to literacy, and free books

What do you get when you mix a prize-winning orator, book giveaways, music and dance performances, and students reading aloud from their favorite books?

The answer is fun and education. The annual African American Read-In will offer all of the above this Saturday, Feb. 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for kids of all ages who love reading and books. Free and open to the entire community, the read-in will culminate with students selecting free books for their home library. The location for this Black History Month celebration of African American literature and literacy is Cornerstone Baptist Church, 1819 MLK Jr. Blvd.

Families who attend will enjoy a full day of activities devoted to the appreciation of black literature and culture. KHVN Radio Host Carmina Barnett will serve as emcee. Charles Rice fifth-grader and champion of the 2017 Gardere MLK Oratory Competition, Sierra Jones, will recite her winning essay. Six students will read excerpts from their favorite books by black authors, and performances will include the Charles Rice Learning Center Choir, Lincoln High School’s Maurine F. Bailey Concert Choir, the Cornerstone Praise Dancers and a step group from Adelle Turner Elementary.

Sponsors of the event include the Dallas Independent School District, Cornerstone Community Development Corporation, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing, Half-Price Books, World Vision and Borden’s.