About
When his daughter was very young, Keith Carson (Captain Kidd Carson) loved to read to her. When she was old enough to read, this led to her rarely being found without a book in her hands, and her school teachers would often remark that she was reading at a much higher grade level. From there, she developed a talent for writing her own short stories, and at parent-teacher conferences it was not unusual for her teachers to comment on how much they couldn’t wait to read her next story.
From elementary school through college, Carson’s daughter would remain an honor roll student, had several of her stories published, and even won an award as a result of her writing. It was not difficult to realize that books, from an early age, made a tremendous difference in her life. Carson began to think. If reading could do that for his daughter, why not for any other child?
While researching the benefits of reading to your children and their reading on their own, Carson discovered that it builds warm and happy associations with books, increasing the likelihood that kids will find reading enjoyable in the future. Reading at home also boosts school performance later on, increases vocabulary, raises self-esteem, builds good communication skills, and strengthens the human brain. Not only that, it also helps relieve stress and prepares the person for a better night’s rest. And of course, it helps children use their imaginations and go on limitless adventures.
When he realized all the benefits that a great literacy program could have on children, Keith began reaching out to children’s book authors who had written stories about pirates to see if they would donate a book to the program. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. The library expands on a regular basis.
The program itself involves him going into classrooms, libraries, and other events dressed in full pirate garb, and reading age-appropriate stories to children. He’s a masterful storyteller who loves helping children and making a difference in their lives, all while having fun. Each participant walks away with a Bookaneer certificate and some cool pirate swag.
Keith Carson has been a well-respected pirate actor, entertainer, and philanthropist since 2003. He’s been seen in movies, on television, and making appearances around the country. In 2020 he was elected into the esteemed Order of Leviathan, and a year later was inducted into the International Pirate Hall of Fame. He’s also the author of an award-winning children’s book himself called, “The Pirate who Learned to Love.” His second book is entitled, “How the Pirates Saved Christmas.”