Author and president of J2B Publishing in Pomfret, James Burd Brewster visited children at the St. Charles Children's Learning Center at the College of Southern Maryland recently, read his book “Uncle Rocky: Fireman Fire!” and offered them the chance to dress the part of the main character. After the reading, students asked Brewster questions about being an author and an editor, and tried on a firefighter's protective gear as depicted in one of the books. Brewster also read “Who Wants a Cookie?” and “Officer Jack: Lost Lady.”
Following a career in the U.S. Coast Guard, and raising five children with his wife Katie, Brewster signed up for a creative writing class at CSM with Professor Wayne Karlin. For one of his writing assignments, Brewster recounted a character and stories that he used to tell his children and the Uncle Rocky, Fireman stories were born.
As the center celebrates its 10-year anniversary, it also celebrates earning a Maryland EXCELS Level 3 rating by the Maryland State Department of Education, part of the accreditation process. The center provides CSM students, faculty and staff, as well as community members, quality, child-centered care for more than a hundred students from ages 8 weeks to 12 years old.
The center has 10,000 square feet of learning space including nine child-centered classrooms, a gymnasium and a prep kitchen. In addition, the center has its own private landscaped playground and access to the campus grounds. Summer day camps at the center will be offered June 20 through Aug. 25 to engage, educate and entertain through hands-on activities provided in a safe, caring environment. Weekly themes help students test the boundaries of their knowledge as they discover fascinating facts, new areas of interest and lifelong friends.
For a playlist of Celebrity Reader selections, visit http://bit.ly/1TYwEhF. For information on the St. Charles Children's Learning Center, visit http://www.csmd.edu/clc/.