Mother/author/athlete Kristi Yamaguchi is part of a reading PSA from Scholastic. Her motto is “Always Dream,” and Kristi’s accomplishments prove that dreams can come true with hard work and dedication. Her achievements — on the ice, in her personal life, and in the realm of community service — are many, all of which prove her consistent commitment to excellence. In 2011 Kristi released “Dream Big Little Pig,” her first children’s picture book. The inspirational book about a persevering pig who finds her passion debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list prompting the announcement of a second Poppy Pig book due out in 2012.

She hopes to encourage more kids to read with her PSA. Kristi Yamaguchi talks about her five most influential books:

1. A Wrinkle in Time
“I enjoyed the amazing adventure that the main character went on with her brother. It is such an imaginative story filled with excitement.”

2. Anne of Green Gables
“I remember wishing I could be “Anne” even though life sometimes seemed a bit hard for her. She had a spunky personality and was a good person at heart.”

3. Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss
“I loved the rhyming, the illustrations, and the message in the book. Be open to try new things — you might just like it!”

4. Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice
“I read this for English class in high school and was intrigued. I loved dissecting the characters and plot in class and really got a better understanding of the book itself and for interpreting a book in general. The internal struggle of Louis throughout the book pulled me in even though it got graphic and scary at times.”

5. The Art of Happiness
“So much insight on your own “happiness.” It lent me much perspective during a time that was not so easy. Sometimes just a little encouragement and reality check can put you on a good path again. Best message taken away — we can choose whether to be happy or not.”

Read Every Day PSA with Kristi Yamaguchi