WASHINGTON (7News) — This week, 7News’ Robert Burton visited first and second graders at Langley Elementary School in NE D.C.

Robert read them a book titled “The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do” by Ashley Spires. In the book Lou and her friends pretend to be pirates. There’s only one problem.

Lou has to climb a tree to get up to the pirate ship. Without giving away the ending, this book depicts what children go through when confronted with something difficult. It’s a story of empowerment.

Robert spoke with the school’s reading specialist and the principal who say their students needed this.

“People look up to you. They know that ok he was involved in sports at one time. And especially for males. A lot of our kids sometimes don’t always engage in reading. But seeing a role model in the community makes a difference,” said Rebecca Christian, reading specialist.

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“What better place would that be for all people who communicate well. Who use literacy and literature in their work, not only writing the reports but being able to deliver the report in such a way that the audience can hear. So attaching people like you to the work that were doing also adds that layer of impact,” said Kristina Kellogg, principal.

If you’d like Robert to come to your school, you can suggest schools and locations in the form here.