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SHORT the Squirrel celebrated its fourth birthday on Feb. 22 with a reading program across the state.

SHORT the Squirrel is an “Official Mascot for Childhood Literacy in Alabama.” The nonprofit reading initiative founded in 2020 by Monica Anderson Young and Dr. Dee Dupree Bennett to create a love for reading and igniting the imaginations of the state’s youngest citizens through literacy-rich, community-oriented content. 

Several Selma City Schools and Dallas County schools participated in Short the Squirrel program: 

• Clark Elementary School
• Edgewood Elementary School
• Sophia P. Kingston Elementary School
• Payne Elementary School
• Brantley Elementary 
• J. E. Terry Elementary 
• Valley Grande Elementary 
• Bruce K. Craig Elementary School 
• Salem Primary School 
• Southside Primary School 

State Senator and Selma native Robert Stewart met Short  at the State Capital in Montgomery, 

discussing the critical role literacy plays to shape the future of the state.

“Short the Squirrel is an ambassador for literacy, his presence is right on time to spur innovative learning,” Stewart said. 

Since Short came into existence, 14 grant-funded titles and activity booklets are available to children and schools throughout the state.