UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR ENJOYS READING BOOKS TO KIDS OVER AND OVER

Ann Porter Gifford reads a book in a matter of minutes. Then she reads it again and again, entertaining elementary school students with the fanciful tales in children's books.

Gifford's life has revolved around reading for nearly three decades as a public school teacher, a mother and school volunteer, a substitute teacher and now as a member of the faculty of the elementary and special education department at Southeast Missouri State University.

She teaches reading techniques at the university, a job she began on a part-time basis in August 1985. She became a full-time faculty member in August 1991. Gifford's husband, Robert, is a member of the university's music faculty.

For the past 10 years, Gifford has been reading to elementary school children in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson school districts, first as a volunteer and substitute teacher, and now as a member of the university faculty.

This semester, she has been spending her Friday mornings reading to kindergarten, first, second and third graders at Washington School and sharing reading ideas with the teachers.

Friday morning, she was at it again. Armed with several children's books and posters displaying the names of children's authors and some of the books they have written, Gifford traveled from classroom to classroom, reading to classes.

"I always give them a little bit of information about the authors," she noted.

In Betty Copanas' class, first graders sat on the floor in the middle of the classroom listening to Gifford read the story of "Cinderella."

Gifford involved the kids in the story-telling, asking them questions about the well-known tale.

Her modulating voice recounted the story, sometimes in whispering tones.

In Mae Sherwood's second grade class, Gifford read the "Shadow," a book that artfully describes shadows. "It is mute. It never speaks," Gifford read, holding the book up so the children could see the illustrations. "If you open your eyes in your sleep, shadow is there."

Gifford's love of books is readily apparent, her enthusiasm clearly visible from her facial expressions to her energetic style of reading.

It's also apparent in her university office, a windowless cubbyhole full of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves crammed with children's books she has collected over the years.

There's barely room for a small desk in her office in the Scully Building. Her telephone sits wedged on a shelf, books on either side.

On a top shelf is a cardboard box full of books on folk tales and pigs.

"I have 20 different versions of `The Three Little Pigs,' from all different parts of the world," she observed.

"Obviously, I get excited about it," a smiling Gifford said of reading to youngsters. "I just love being with kids."

Gifford said, "Part of the fun is just watching the sparkle in their eyes and their enthusiasm as I read. It is enriching. It gives significance to the fact that books are important."

Gifford said she likes to read new books to the students to find out which ones appeal to them. "I'm wanting them to read more. That's the whole purpose."

And she said, "Part of the reason I do it is I really believe I cannot be an effective techniques teacher if I'm not back in the schools."

She brings along several books and allows the kids to choose which ones they want to have read to them. If one doesn't go over, she moves on to another book.

"I guess that's the sign of a good teacher, always be prepared for the unexpected," said Gifford, who grew up in Kirksville and graduated from Northeast Missouri State University in 1963.

Her first job was as a second grade teacher in California. She later taught at an Air Force base in Nebraska.

She subsequently lived in Warrensburg. About 15 years ago, she started a volunteer reading program in the Warrensburg school district that eventually involved about 75 parents.

"We were just moms that were interested," said Gifford, who was married and raising two sons.

Raised in a family that put a premium on education of all kinds, Gifford said she has always been driven by the goal of being "the best teacher."

Gifford's experience with children's books has earned her a position as U.S. representative to the Children's Literature Board of South Africa.

Gifford was selected to a three-year term following an interview at the 20th World Conference of the World Organization for Early Childhood Education, held in August in Arizona. Thirty-eight countries were represented at the conference, which was presented in six languages.

The Children's Literature Board is responsible for making recommendations to South Africa regarding appropriate books and materials for use in its public school system.

"I have read to children regularly in the public schools, giving me hands-on knowledge of what literature proves successful," she said. "South African schools do not have access to United States publications and books, and they need someone here to recommend appropriate materials."

Children's books have changed over the years, Gifford said.

Today, there are more quality children's books and the subject matter has changed. "You find more cultural diversity in your books now and less stereotyping of individuals."

For the story-telling Gifford, there's always a new children's book to read and read and read.