First-grader Carter Higgins tried to squeeze onto his mother’s lap as she read aloud, but his younger siblings—ages 5 and 3—had already claimed the spot. Once they scrambled off, Carter nestled in to listen to “When Daddy Had the Chicken Pox.”

The family was seated on a gray plaid blanket in front of a teepee in a school multipurpose room. Carter snacked on popcorn from a brown paper lunch bag, having already attended his first storytelling session of the evening when he listened to teachers read stories in the school library.

“He told me his favorite day is library day because the librarian always reads,” his mother, Laurel, said. “I hope he develops a love for learning. We make books a priority in our house. We drive to school early so we can read in the car before the school day starts. Every week, we visit the library and check out a huge stack of 40 or 50 books that we devour.”

This was Summit Academy’s annual literacy night, a tradition the school has held since 2004.

The event’s goal remains the same year after year.

“We want to get everyone excited about reading,” said Jacque York, literacy event chair. “This year, we organized a monthlong celebration, starting with bingo, where kids could mark off boxes after reading picture books, chapter books, or completing other literacy activities.”

Popular booths, such as the ones for making bookmarks or swapping books, remained favorites.

“When I asked my nephew what he liked most about literacy night, he said, ‘food.’ So, we have popcorn and got more when we ran out,” York said. “The kids love listening to stories while snacking.”

Throughout the years, various authors have participated in the event, including Mark and Caralyn Buehner, known for the “Snowmen at Night” series, and Kristyn Crow, author of “Zombelina.”

This year, students gathered around author Rebecca Avati, asking questions, signing up for a free book, and receiving a character sketch guide.

“If you create a fun, interesting character, you can imagine all kinds of adventures for them,” she told the students, introducing them to Roald Dahl’s “The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me.” 

The story follows a boy who teams up with a giraffe, pelican, and monkey to run a window-cleaning business.

“If you had a giraffe, a pelican, and a monkey as friends, what would you do?” Avati asked. “When you invent a character, they help you create a story.”

Avati, who also shares her “Magic of the Woods” series, encouraged students to write.

“Writing is crucial for their future,” she said. “It’s essential for college and for expressing themselves, building confidence and connecting with others.”

In addition to her two books, Avati has contributed to two anthologies and is set to release the third book in her four-part series in spring 2026. She is also working on a spin-off series.

Her passion for writing is rooted in her first career as a teacher. In fact, it was through an assignment that she began to write.

“When I was teaching fourth grade, I assigned my students a fictional story with a plot, following a story arc with rising action, climax, and resolution. Some students struggled, so I said, ‘We’re going to do this together,’ and I started writing. That helped them, and soon many of them loved it. After typing it up, we laminated it and we were sharing our stories when COVID hit,” she said. 

Even with the school shutdown in March 2020 with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Avati kept writing.

“I found out I love writing, and it has snowballed since. I’m still teaching and still writing,” she said. “Right now, I direct academic interventions and provide math support in sixth grades. I’m a math teacher who likes writing.”

When she started writing, Avati faced the challenge of a blank page.

“I didn’t have ideas until I start writing. I helped my students learn how to write what comes to their minds, and then once they’re writing, ideas come. I teach students about a story structure because it helps them to think more about what could happen and that helps their imagination. I also tell them good writing involves editing and rewriting. It’s never perfect at first, but with time and effort, they shape their ideas into something amazing,” she said.

In six months, she can complete a book.

“I write when I have time, like when I’m at the grocery line at Walmart waiting for my pickup order, I’m typing on my phone,” said the mother of four. “Being part of a writer’s critique group has helped a lot. It’s important not to be afraid of feedback and critiques.”

Avati hopes to teach a writing class next year at Summit Academy.

“I love sharing my stories with students and hope to inspire them to read and write,” she said. “I’m so glad to see so many parents here tonight, supporting their kids and encouraging them to read. In our world full of fast entertainment, it’s vital for children to develop a love for reading and writing.”  λ