Welcome to Read With A Child.com

J. Blythe Ammons (Jessica) is a children's author and a volunteer Storyteller for Oklahoma's library and education system. She developed a literacy program that promotes reading for entertainment, as well as education. It is designed to cultivate parent/child interaction by encouraging families to read together. The inspiration for the 'Read with a Child' program came from a family tradition of reading together in her childhood home. Ammons learned the value of sharing a book and made a goal to relate the message that reading is fun as well as beneficial. She says, “Encouraging families to read is important in a society bombarded with video games, computers, and TV.”

Ammons has spent countless hours at work in her local community. Her many efforts have won her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Award: The 'Nobel Prize' for Public Service. Established in 1972, the Jefferson Awards honor individuals for their contributions through civil participation and community involvement. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Sen. Robert Taft Jr. and Sam Beard founded the American Institute for Public Service to create the 'Nobel Prize' for Public and Community Service.

J. Blythe Ammons has also received the Helen Keating Ott Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children's Literature. Each year a recipient is honored for “promoting high moral and ethical values through children's literature.” Ammons qualified for the award with a story that she titled “Stop Bullying All Together”. It teaches children to treat others the way they want to be treated, the Golden Rule. Ammons used colors to identify the characters in the story- Billy Blue, Violet Vandever, Rocky Redeye etc... She also colored coded questions about each character for group discussion. The “Stop Bullying All Together” story was sent to the contest in manuscript form. It was an unusual submission, but was chosen by unanimous decision based on content. For two years, Ammons has printed and bound the book herself in order to give it away to educators. This act influenced the final decision.

Other honors include a Presidential Volunteer Service Metal issued by George W. Bush for promoting National Literacy and the Oklahoma Home and Community Education State Member of the Year, as well as many more.

Jessica is married to James and together they have two school age children. Her plans for the future include to, above all, value her role as wife and mother, publish more books, continue public appearances and volunteer services, and to always inspire the lives of children.