Georgia's First Lady Sandra Deal visited Oak Hill Elementary School Wednesday morning as part of the Read Across Georgia Month, a campaign that supports increased childhood literacy in the state.

First Lady Sandra Deal read a copy of the Pre-K book, "TJ's Discovery."

"TJ's Discovery," which was written by teachers at the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy at the Atlanta Speech School, will be given as a gift to every student in Georgia's Pre-K Program.

"A firm literary foundation is essential for academic success, and the Read Across Georgia initiative helps to provide just that," Deal said. "I'm confident that through our continued partnerships with state agencies, organizations and classrooms all over the state, we can fully achieve our goal of educating all children to their fullest potential."

"It takes parents, teachers and the community working together to lay the educational groundwork for academic success," said Mrs. Deal. "TJ's Discovery is a family adventure that engages children and serves as a teaching tool for parents and caregivers. My hope is that this book will help parents become more confident as they guide their children in the process of learning to read."

"Reading at grade level by the end of third grade is a predictor of positive outcomes for children later in life," said DECAL Commissioner Amy Jacobs. "DECAL supports Governor Deal's grade-level reading goal by laying a solid foundation of pre-literacy skills in Georgia's youngest children from birth to age 5 in child care settings and in Georgia's Pre-K Program."