Early reader program puts free copies of ‘The Baker’s Patio’ series in hands of children

October 28, 2021 | By David Adam, MRN Editor

Gerard Fischer hands out copies of the book, "The Baker's Patio," to first grade students in Jamie Marshall's class at St. Francis School in Quincy. | David Adam

QUINCY — A yellow giraffe with polka dots named Flower Girl likes to play video games. Flower Girl’s favorite video game involves tractors with flowers. Flower Girl’s friend, a brown cheetah named Cheety, wants to come over to play video games. A red lion named Tiger also wants to play games, but Tiger’s sharp teeth scare Cheety and Flower Girl.

First grade students in Jamie Marshall’s class at St. Francis School created that story Wednesday morning. After local author Ron Kinscherf read his book, “The Baker’s Patio,” to the kids, he helped them create a story using only their imagination. Creating the story took less than five minutes. Kinscherf, a former information technology consultant who published his first book in July, added his own illustrations to a large drawing pad of paper.

“I don’t just want to read the book and leave,” said Kinscherf. “I want to try to get the kids to get away from the screens and let them play … let them use their imagination.”

Book signing for second book in series set for Nov. 7

Kinscherf has started an early reader program. Students receive a copy of a book from “The Baker’s Patio” series and a visit from the author. He already has presented the book to classrooms at St. Francis, St. Peter, Rooney Elementary School and two schools in North Carolina (where his grandchildren live).

A sponsorship with American Family Insurance agent Gerard Fischer pays for the books. Fischer spent Wednesday morning visiting the school he attended as a child in the 1970s. He gave copies of the book to the children in Marshall’s class after Kinscherf’s presentation.

“I only live four blocks away, so this has meaning to me,” Fischer said. “I love to support the education, and it’s a blessing to help out.”

A book signing for Kinscherf’s second book in “The Baker’s Patio” series titled “Flight School” is scheduled for 3-6 p.m. Nov. 7 at Pappo’s Pizza in the Quincy Town Center.

Schools interested in the early reader program should visit Kinscherf’s website, Papa Tell Me a Book, or contact him at papatellmeabook@gmail.com or on Facebook at @papatellmeabook.