Mayor James reads to Chouteau students

Mayor Sly James visited Chouteau Elementary on Monday, April 1, to read to students as part of a literacy event hosted at the school.

Students listened while the mayor read "My Name Is Not Alexander," a book which briefly chronicles the lives of several famous historical figures as a boy, Alexander, pretends to be each as he marches through his day.

Early literacy has been a focus of Mayor James as a way to engage the community around the education of its children. The recently established Turn the Page KC works to achieve reading proficiency for third graders in Kansas City, Mo.

Students and families attending the evening event also had a chance to met with librarians from the Mid-Continent Public Library branch and learn what resources were available from the library.

MCPL provided personal books for children attending the event to take home and read.