GUYTON — Strange noises emanated from teacher Jennifer Fessler’s first-grade class at Marlow Elementary School on Friday. The sounds resembled those at a zoo.

“Rooaarrrr!”

“Bwhaaaar!”

“Quack!”

“Sssssssssssssss!”

The source of the commotion was quite surprising. It was Dr. Yancy Ford, superintendent of the Effingham County School District.

Ford was one of 135 volunteers who read to Effingham County’s pre-K, kindergarten and first-grade classes during Reading United Day, an event designed to close the literacy gap. United Way of the Coastal Empire gave books to 2,651 Effingham County students.

“You’ll also get a book for your teacher to have as part of their classroom (library),” Ford told Fessler’s students. “You will always have books in your classroom to read.”

The superintendent reminded the children about the importance of reading before starting the book, “Can I Join Your Club?”

“Reading is knowledge,” he said. “Once you get knowledge, nobody can ever, ever take that away from you and it will take you to many, many, many places.”

Ford engaged warmly with the students while reading a heartwarming celebration of diversity and friendship.

“I think you’ve read this book before,” he said after a boy blurted out some of the early dialogue.

The superintendent and children grinned and laughed throughout the brief encounter.

“Thanks for letting me come,” Ford said after finishing the book.

The superintendent thanked United Way-Effingham County Executive Director Elizabeth Waters for her organization’s promotion of literacy. Waters reciprocated the gratitude.

“The fact that we have Dr. Ford’s support is amazing,” Waters said. “And not his, in general, but the whole Effingham County Board of Education. It has been so supportive

“I know this has been so disruptive in an instruction day but I have heard nothing but great feedback from the staff about this program.”

Waters was also thankful for all the volunteer readers.

“We needed 135 volunteers and the spots were filled just like that to fill that need,” she said while snapping her fingers.