Former New York Knicks’ star hoopster Charles Smith and area Rep. Michael McMahon received a slam-dunk of a welcome when they visited Gravesend Library to kick off the National Basketball Association’s Read to Achieve literacy program.
The retired power forward and the Brooklyn/Staten Island congressman showed fine motivating form as they joined other guests in boosting youngsters to read more by blending story-time and all-star athletics in a fun and engaging way at the local repository, 303 Avenue X.
The pair read, “Where’s Jamela?”, a book authored and illustrated by Niki Daly, to a rapt audience and then joined them for autographs, prizes and games.
The NBA’s Read to Achieve program is a year-round campaign to help young people develop a life-long love for reading, and to encourage adults to read regularly to children.
