Living in a world of dragons, princesses or far-off places is as easy as opening a book.

To promote a love of reading, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Zeta Eta Omega Chapter passed out more than 400 books to the more than 275 children at the Reading is Fun program at the Convention Center on Monday.

This isn’t anything new for Selma. The AKAs have sponsored this event four times a year since 1996.

Students listened to keynote speaker attorney Terri Sewell, recently elected democratic nominee for Congress, as she described her favorite book, “The Little Engine That Could.”

The persistence in that book is one of the many factors Sewell believes helped her achieve her goals.

By allowing children to have their own books, the AKAs want to instill a love of reading in children of all ages.

Owning a book is but a small step on the path to a passion for literature.

Parents, friends and family members need to also encourage children to open the books. Make reading time fun in any way possible.

The creativity a book holds begins with the words and illustrations, so find a comfortable spot on the couch and explore the journey of the words.