Even though children are busy watching cartoons and perfecting their cannon balls this summer, Nancy Sewell and her reading program want to inspire children to do more.

On Monday, June 18, Reading is Fun Week kicks off as part of the national organization Reading Is Fundamental’s movement to get children reading more. RIF acts on the idea that children have a greater desire to read when they have the pride of owning their very own book.

Each year, some 3 million books are donated to the national organization and more than 400,000 volunteers come out and help. RIF is the largest children’s literacy non-profit in the United States.

“There is a dire need to promote reading in Selma and Dallas County,” Sewell said. “We find out that many times children do not read because they don’t have reading materials at home.”

Nancy Sewell and jean Myers started the Reading is Fun Week program in Selma in 1993 when they served on the city council.

Sewell, a retired librarian, said she knew that she wanted to get more children excited and motivated to read — especially through the summer months and she still wants that today in 2012.

“I could think of no better project back then than a reading program and we started giving kids books to read,” Sewell said. “Giving them three books a year doesn’t sound like much — but it is.”

Sewell wants to send a message to Dallas County children about the importance of reading in their lives and said she thinks children can never read too much. She even remembers reading to her children in the womb when she was pregnant, and attributes some of her daughter’s success in life to that.

Sewell said the excitement of the Reading is Fun week can go with a child through all of their years.

“This week makes a difference in the lives of children,” Sewell said. “We turn out great kids and the kids cant wait to come to RIF, you can just see their excitement as they all grab their books and it follows them all the way through school.”

The program is open to all children ages 3 through 17 and free books will be distributed.

Also a character breakfast will take place in which the children can meet and greet their favorite book characters such as Clifford, the big red dog.

“Through the ownership of books we want parents reading to their kids,” Sewell said. “We are trying to promote the love for books and reading to open the door for knowledge.”