NATCHEZ — Jagger Elveston may only be 5 years old, but he loves to read books, he said.

Adams County Christian School librarian, Sandra Eidt, said Jagger’s reading skills are nothing short of amazing and he has already read nearly 50 books since school started in August.

“He’s in kindergarten, but he reads on a second-grade level,” Eidt said. “He even tried some third-grade level books, too.”

Elveston recently read a series of humorous chapter books called “Fly Guy,” by Tedd Arnold and Elveston also reads in front of his class for a treat, said his teacher Marilyn Gilbert.

“He’s just a small fly,” Elveston said. “He’s funny. … My favorite is Fly Guy and the Aliens.”

Elveston said he started reading when he was 4 years old and in pre-kindergarten.

“God gifted me,” Elveston said.

His mom, Courtney Elveston, said Jagger picked up the skill easily as his older brother Axel, 7, was learning to read for school.

“Every night we would practice reading, and he would sit with us,” Courtney said. “It just clicked with him and he started reading the books on his own.”

Jagger Elveston’s dad, Kelly Elveston, said he remembers when Jagger first picked up a book to read by himself.
“I can remember him saying to his mom, ‘Let me read part of it,’” Kelly Elveston said. “She would let him read just a little sentence and help him with it. Before long, he was reading it himself and reading the whole chapters.”

Every night, Jagger Elveston said he reads the Bible with his family.

Psalm 24:1, Jagger Elveston’s favorite verse, says, “God is love,” Jagger Elveston said.

“What does Luke 10:27 say?” Gilbert asked him as he sat in front of the classroom with a Christmas book open in his lap.

“Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your strength and all of your heart and love your neighbor as yourself,” Jagger Elveston said, reciting the verse from memory.

Jagger Elveston also enjoys playing football, singing, dancing and playing games on the Wii with his brother, he said.

“We just know that every child is gifted from God with unique abilities and talents,” Courtney Elveston said. “Jagger’s gift just happens to be reading. We hope and pray that someday he will use that gift to glorify the Lord.”