Local teacher pens children’s books

Written by SUSAN MAYER DAVIS   |   Photographed by JACKIE KENNEDY

People define “family” in a variety of ways. Children’s author Beverley Reichman, of Newnan, has one grown son but says she feels like a mother to hundreds of children.

A retired teacher with the Coweta County School System for almost two decades, Reichman shared her love of reading with hundreds of students, including those at Thomas Crossroads Elementary. Also a published author, she encouraged her students to pursue learning, literature and living life to its fullest.

“I thought of each student as part of my family,” she says. “I loved seeing them as they grew older and began families of their own.”

Through her classroom career, the teacher discovered much about how the mind of an early learner works and how targeted intervention may prevent years of frustration later in life. It all hinges on the love of reading, according to Reichman, who began writing children's books a couple of years ago. Her first, “Kevin Can,” aims to help struggling readers realize they can overcome obstacles. The second book in the series, “Kevin is a Smart Cookie,” features a “believe and achieve” theme.

Reichman also has released the first book in her “Cindi” series: “Cindi The Teenie Chiweenie.” The second installment, “Cindi’s Christmas Kitten Surprise,” comes out this fall.

In the classroom, the elementary school teacher assigned writing exercises that allowed students to write about a topic of interest to them. She celebrated their expression of ideas and called them “authors.”

Reichman's passion for reading rubbed off on student Grace Morgan, daughter of Josh and Hope Morgan.

“She always tells me ‘You can do it’ when she helps with my reading, and I like working with her because she makes reading fun and easy to understand,” says Grace. “She loves to read, and it makes me want to read.”

According to Reichman, early literacy begins with children naturally emulating their environment.

“Setting aside time daily to read aloud to your child clearly benefits their cognitive, language, vocabulary and social-emotional development, but it also lets them experience you as a reading role model,” she says, advising parents to establish a routine story time. “That’s also essential for stimulating your child’s imagination and curiosity, expanding their understanding of the world around them, and cultivating a love of reading.”

NCM