Mrs. Bush Is 'Library Lady' for the Day [View All]

[Khephra]

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. -- When first lady Laura Bush, a former librarian, read aloud to children here Wednesday, she picked an appropriate book: "Tomas and the Library Lady," a story about a Texas migrant boy whose trip to a library opens his eyes to the world of books.

"I hope that everybody is practicing reading at home," Mrs. Bush said after reading the true story by Texas author Pat Mora about Tomas Rivera, who grew up to become chancellor of the University of California-Riverside. "Look what happened because he read all those books."

A crowd, some seated on the library carpet, greeted Mrs. Bush when she arrived at Rancho Mirage Public Library. Former first lady Betty Ford invited Mrs. Bush to this southern California city, which is home to the alcohol and drug clinic founded by Mrs. Ford. Neither she nor former President Ford attended.

"I hope that everybody is practicing reading at home," Mrs. Bush said, urging the children to spend more time reading than watching television. "Reading takes practice. Reading is really great exercise for your brain."

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