Meet Ms. Ann Davis | Read 2 Succeed's New Storytime Specialist

We're thrilled to introduce Ms. Ann Davis as our new Storytime Specialist at Read 2 Succeed! Delve into our exclusive Q&A below to get acquainted with Ms. Ann, her background, and her passion for bringing books to life.

What role has reading played in your life? 
It's a necessity; you can't do without it. At some point, you have to read something. Reading, depending on how you do it - with passion and excitement - can spark an interest for others to want to participate. Not only do you want them to spectate, "Ooh, I want to try it, I want to do it!" – you also want to cause interest in others, especially in young children.
I've seen technology cause children to rely on tech tools more than striving to read themselves. It cuts back on some of the experience and thinking, whereas with a book, kids use fine motor skills, take care of the book, and look at it as a treasure.
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What was your favorite book as a child? What is your favorite book now (if it changed!)
I love many books, but if I had to narrow it down to two favorites: The Tale Of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt and The Little Red Hen (along with most nursery rhymes!).

These stories have impacted me, teaching important lessons about morals, values, ethics, and teamwork. In 'The Little Red Hen,' I learned the importance of hard work and sticking with it. In the story, the hen asks her animal friends for help, but they are only interested once it is time to enjoy the rewards. I remember this story being interactive and including fun activities that made it come to life.

How did you start Books Alive!?
While working in early childhood education, I conducted a training session for the staff at the YWCA on how to bring stories to life.

Near the end of the pandemic, some people suggested that I read to kids on Facebook, and that's how Books Alive! got started. It has been growing steadily, and with the support of R2S, I continue to promote literacy. I've been expanding its scope, with plans to introduce nonfiction texts like Scholastic newsletters.

Additionally, I'm excited to start a morning session every second Thursday, focusing on activities for babies and toddlers who might not have access to Pre-K. Children can tune in to see animals, sing songs, and enjoy story time during these sessions.

Every fourth Thursday, I collaborate with R2S to practice letter sounds, use phoneme flashcards, and read stories. I'm also exploring ways to incorporate phonemic awareness activities and introduce a 'word of the day' feature."

Folks can tune in weekly at the Facebook link here: https://www.facebook.com/BooksAlivewithMsAnn.

What are you most looking forward to at R2S?
I'm looking forward to training skills and knowledge to help children learn to read and develop an interest in reading. Also, I love participating in community events to share Books Alive, read with children, and spread a love of reading.

Where does your passion come from?
When I had my first child, I bought Little Golden Books for $0.69 instead of candy whenever we went to the store. I read to her regularly. Later, when I became a teacher in childcare, promoting literacy became a significant focus for me. The children in my class were always thrilled for storytime, especially when we read classics like Pete the Cat and went through our seasonal favorites. Through the Foster Grandparent (FPG) program, I had three foster grandparents, and it was common for us to read together with 20 or 30 books a day.

What are some of your favorite things about Asheville?
I love the mountains and meeting people. It's also my birthplace. When I was a little bitty girl, I lived in Stumptown. During my middle and high school years, I resided in PVA; later, I lived right up from Magnolia Park. I enjoy the views and the diversity of people.

If you could be any character from a book, who would you choose and why?
I would choose the wood maker from 'You Are Special' by Max Lucado because he sees the beauty and what is special about each doll he makes. He made the dolls, but they received either a gray dot or a gold star when they went out. There's one doll in particular who, despite having nothing physically stuck to her, finds validation and comfort in the presence of Eli, whom she talks to every day.