One of Selma’s shining stars will return to his hometown this morning to stress the importance of reading.

Former Selma High School standout and current Oakland Athletic Jai Miller will host the Reading is Fundamental breakfast with Santa today from 10 a.m. to noon at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center.

In a a release from RIF, they stressed the importance of reading at a young age and support.

“While RIF’s Breakfast with Santa is a great vehicle for focusing attention on the literacy needs of our children, we know that it is going to take far more to create readers for the 21st century,” the release said. “Therefore, we need more support, especially the kind that starts at home. Our final plea, during this Christmas season is that the Reading Is Fun Program would like for all parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and caregivers to read with the children in their lives. Together we can make reading an essential everyday part of every child’s life.”

Miller, a 2003 graduate of Selma High School, was drafted out of high school by the Florida Marlins. He played for several minor league teams before making the Kansas City Royals roster where he got his first hit against the Detroit Tigers.

RIF is a national literacy program that is sponsored locally by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Zeta Eta Omega chapter in collaboration with the Selma City Council, Dallas County Commissioners and volunteer helpers from Selma’s Digital Divide AmeriCorps.

Parents are invited to bring their children out to eat breakfast and select some good books to read during the Christmas holidays.

In addition, children will have an opportunity to meet their favorite characters such as Clifford the big red dog, Franklin the turtle, Curious George and the big Green Monster.

Additionally, Santa helpers will have lots of surprises for the boys and girls.

The Reading Is Fundamental program encourages children to read more by mobilizing parents, teachers, and community members in a four-day celebration of reading.