Teaser: Professional Linebacker Turned Author
Former Washington Redskins linebacker and four-time NFL Pro-Bowler Ken Harvey visited Floris Elementary School March 3 to read his latest children's book for Read Across America.
Voted by the Redskins as one of the organization's 70 greatest players for his 89 career sacks, after leaving the NFL due to injuries, Harvey switched gears from tackling quarterbacks to writing children's books.
After saying hello to the kindergarten through third-grade audience in Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Italian and "West Virginian," Harvey explained when he used to read to his two sons he would substitute their names for the main characters of the book.
Because his sons loved hearing their names as characters, Harvey said he worked with a friend who was an artist to create books using his children as the main characters.
"MY TWO SONS INSPIRED me to write how people of different ethnicity and race can work and live together," said Harvey.
Since then, he has developed a series of children's books based on his first book "Life in the Fridge," — which uses common foods in the refrigerator to appeal to children.
Reading "The Fridge Games" — a take off of the Olympic Games — Harvey said he created the book because today's youth are playing video games and watching television more than exercising.
"Kids don't exercise as much as they should," he said. "I wanted to write a book about exercise and how to make it fun."
In addition, Harvey also explained to the group of children the importance of reading, saying as a child he was nervous to read out loud, but with practice he gained confidence.
After reading his book, Harvey took some time to answer questions.
Questions included everything from what team he liked playing for the best, the Arizona Cardinals or Redskins and whether or not he thought the hiring of Joe Gibbs was a good decision to how many football games he had won.
"Even when you don't win, it's what you do when you're out there that counts," he said after explaining during his time with the 'Skins they didn't win many games. "If you try your best while you're out there, that's what's important."
After answering questions, Harvey took the last 10 minutes to run through some football training and stretching drills with the children, allowing them to burn off energy before heading back to class.