It has been 15 years since the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront (R3) series debuted on Thursdays and Fridays during the summer where luminaries from business, politics and sports read books to kids to help foster a love of reading.
While much has changed since the series began, the focus of helping kids learn to read is greater today as leaders and organizations alike wave a flag of concern.
Since R3 was launched, over 34,000 children have come to a scenic park on Detroit’s riverfront, along with families, for the free summer series. Leaders like General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra; former Detroit mayors Mike Duggan and Dave Bing; Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel; Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison; U.S.
Rep Debbie Dingell; Leona Medley, executive director of the Joe Louis Greenway, and hundreds more have taken their turn on stage to read a book.
“All children should have opportunities to learn, imagine, and thrive, and Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront makes learning accessible and fun,” said Dave Massaron, GM vice president of Infrastructure and Corporate Citizenship. The automaker has sponsored the event since it began.
Ryan Sullivan, CEO of the conservancy, said: “When you help instill a love of reading in a child, you unlock a whole lifetime of learning and dreaming for them, as well as equipping them with a vital tool that will shape their future and position them for success."
“Supporting the community isn’t just about dollars and cents. It’s about showing up, putting some skin and shoe leather into the work," added Margaret Trimer, vice president of strategic partnerships at Delta Dental. She was among leaders who read to kids and talked about reading's importance.
And for good reason. Michigan ranks 44th in the nation for fourth-grade reading proficiency, according to National Assessment of Educational Progress. It’s an issue gaining attention.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has prioritized improving literacy in the state as a goal this year.
“Michigan’s economic future starts with our kids,” added Jeff Donofrio, president/CEO of Business Leaders For Michigan, an organization of CEOs who represent about 40% of our state’s economy. “If we want a state where people and businesses can thrive, we need to give every child the foundation to succeed — and that starts with reading.”
Jim Holcomb, president and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, is another leader laser-focused on the issue. “Literacy expands opportunity for individuals, strengthens families and communities and helps build the workforce and economy our state needs for generations to come."
A family connection to reading
This issue hit home years ago when my late mother, Ruth Cain, who grew up in Detroit, was upset by reports about illiteracy and young people. She began volunteering at schools on the city’s east side.
She did the same thing with children there as she did with her own seven offspring, working patiently to help them learn to read. She instilled that love of reading to her six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
When I was invited to be a reader at the R3 event in 2011, I turned to my mom for suggestions on a book to read. It was then I found out she had written one, titled “The Tale of the Beautiful Cat" about a boastful cat and lovable dog with a great message about what matters most. She was trying to get it published.
The conservancy folks were game, so I invited my mom and big sis, Nancy, to read her manuscript as that was all we had.
My mom beamed as kids came rushing up to her after she finished. It’s an image as fresh in my memory today as it was then.
My mom, who had been ill, passed away several weeks later.
When I was invited to read at R3 again later, I read her book along with my sister and we decided to get it published and donate proceeds of sales to Detroit public schools. GM was a partner in that endeavor as we also donated copies of the book to the school district's libraries and bookmobiles.
“The Tale of the Beautiful Cat” is sold on Amazon and developed something of a following. I’ve heard from a few folks around the country that they have seen her book in their children’s school library.
My family is blessed with a few wordsmiths, alas no illustrators. Hence, we needed help in bringing my mom’s book to life visually. We turned to Jamie Ruthenberg, an award-winning author and illustrator who has written or ghostwritten 29 books through her company J. Ruthenberg & Co Writing Services.
She did an amazing job illustrating my mom’s words.
Ruthenberg also is much in demand as she has written and ghostwritten genres of books for people of all ages, biographies and autobiographies, too, as well as organizations across the nation.
She is getting set to release her newest children’s book "A Day With Oz and Ella – the Escape," a new series she is writing and illustrating about two cats. She also wrote and illustrated the “Miles” books about a rabbit. "Miles and the Summer Day" is the fifth book in that series
Ruthenberg joined my sister and I on stage Aug. 14 ,which was the final day of the 2026 R3 season. We read “The Tale of the Beautiful Cat” as my five other siblings, spouses, a niece-in-law and their infant son (Luke) traveled to Detroit to hear our mom’s book and see children enjoying it.
Ruthenberg took a moment to explain to kids what an illustrator does and they sat mesmerized as she described drawing cats and dogs.
I also heard about another longtime champion of R3 – Karen Cullen – who wrote a kids book that debuted at R3 this summer.
Her "Tank the Dog Tours the Detroit Riverwalk” will be available this fall with proceeds going to support the conservancy.
Indeed, it takes a village and leaders rowing in the same direction to make a difference as we work to alleviate an issue that won’t get better on its own.
Contact Carol Cain at clcain@cbs.com. She is senior producer/host of "Michigan Matters,"which airs 5:30 a.m. Sundays on CBS Detroit and 9:30 a.m. Sundays on CW Detroit 50. See local authors Vanessa Denha Garmo, Berl Falbaum, Amy Pipper and Jamie Ruthenberg on this weekend’s show. You can also watch the show simultaneously on the two stations' listings on Fubu, Pluto TV, YouTube TV and Apple TV.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why we remember mom and read to kids in Detroit riverfront series
