First Lady delivers ‘Fred The Turtle’ books to KCUE students

Elee Reeves, the First Lady of Mississippi, shared a little of her heart with the students, fac­ulty/staff, and administra­tors at Kemper County Upper Elementary on Fri­day.

The purpose of her visit to DeKalb was to hand deliver copies of her ac­tivity book “Fred The Tur­tle” to KCUE’s 50 fourth-graders. The stu­dents, teachers, and ad­ministrators packed the school library to hear Reeves share the story behind the book as well as to meet and visit with those in attendance.

Each student was pre­sented a copy of the ac­tivity book, including a pack of crayons, following Reeves’ short presenta­tion. They were excited and immediately began working in them. A large picture of Fred the Turtle seemed to be a favorite to color.

“One of my initiatives is about children and volun­teerism and getting chil­dren active,” Reeves said following the event. “My team and I were trying to think of ways we could get in front of children and get them to critically think about how to be confident or brave or learn about friendships and being kind. It started off just being a coloring book, then we kind of grew into an activity book where they can be ac­tively engaged and think through things.and maybe even talk to friends about it. That’s how Fred The Turtle was born.”

During her introduction of the book to the stu­dents Reeves shared that she had an imaginary friend when she was a child named Fred, so it was just natural that the name of her first and only book is “Fred the Turtle.”

Fisherman Jimmy was in­spired by her dad.

Fred and Fisherman Jimmy set out on adven­tures throughout Missis­sippi through coloring pages, dot-to-dot, mazes, and word searches while learning about the geogra­phy, history, and offerings of our state. The activities according to Reeves help students learn about life lessons that include being confident, brave, and kind. The book, also, hopes to promote thought-provok­ing conversations while de­veloping other lifelong skills, such as coping with fear, the importance of a healthy lifestyle and goal setting.

She also talked about being superheroes and knowing about the super­powers that all of us pos­sess. She shared that two of her superpowers were singing and knowing how to braid hair. She has three daughters, Tyler, Emma, and Maddie, who are a jun­ior, freshman, and fourth grader, respectively. Their superpowers, in order, are being smart (especially math), being a fast runner, and loving to talk.

KCUE Principal Delisa Cole said that her school’s fourth graders were un­aware that the governor’s wife would be paying them a visit.

“We left it as a surprise,” she said. “They have been working really hard this week on their boot camp so we wanted to have this be a special treat for them today. We didn’t tell them until the last minute.“

Kemper County Superin­tendent of Education Hi­lute Hudson said the significance of Reeves’ presence at the school, as well as the books, was overwhelming.

“It’s very exciting. For her to come in person and talk about it and meet some of the students is impressive,” Hudson said. “To see their faces when she was speak­ing to them and then for her to put all of the atten­tion on them — it was spe­cial. I love the part about super powers. That was good.”

Cole agreed. “I’m still in shock. We are very privi­leged and honored that we are getting to be a part of this.”

Kaitlyn Burrage, one of the fourth graders, said her superpower was talking, also. She was excited to see and hear the first lady. She was familiar with why Reeves was called the first lady, while others didn’t seem to realize that she was married to the gover­nor, Tate Reeves. Burrage, as many of the students, had started coloring in her book. She was able to find the page in the book about The MAX, an arts and en­tertainment museum in Meridian. She and her fel­low students had been to the Mississippi Children’s Museum in Meridian, which is also mentioned in the book, on a field trip. She also paid a visit there with her mother.

“They are really enjoying the book,” Cole said of her students. “I think her book does an excellent job of teaching critical thinking as well as helping students find those life skills they need.”

Ann Beard, Chief of Staff to Elee Reeves, shared there have been 2,000 books published so far for distribution — first to fourth graders in five school districts throughout the state, including Clai­borne County School Dis­trict, Jefferson County School District, Natchez-Adams School District, and South-Delta School District. Friday’s stop at KCUE was the first of the books being distributed.

Reeves said there was a specific reason fourth graders were designated to receive the book first.

“I knew there was a big push for reading in third grade, so we thought we would take it a little step further with this book and get them to really think,” she said.

The plan is to seek addi­tional funding so that not only every fourth grader in the state will receive a copy, but all elementary students. Rankin County is seeking funding for the next school year. The Mis­sissippi Department of Ed­ucation provided input when it came to selecting which schools should be delivered the books first.

Beard said businesses, or­ganizations, and individuals wishing to help fund the project can contact her of­fice at 601-359-6436.