HOUSTON -- More than 100 local children enjoyed the cool air inside the Children's Museum of Houston, a cold drink of milk and a great book on Thursday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Borden Milk General Manager Tim Hawk said, "We're here reading to kids, spending some time with the children and talking about what's healthy about milk and reading, and how we pull that together in the summertime when kids need to be doing just that. It's summertime, they want to play, but we need to continue healthy habits during the summer time as well."

Reading is Fundamental, the nation's largest literacy organization, teamed up with the museum and Borden Milk for a special Read-A-Long. Even Elsie the Cow was there to promote early literacy and summer reading.

Museum Spokesman Henry Yau said, "You got to learn how to read in order to do everything else, so reading is the fundamental skill that kids acquire."

Amy Smart brought her kids in for a day at the museum and as a school counselor, she knows the importance of hitting the books.

Smart told Local 2, "Kids can lose their reading skills if you do not read during the summer, so it's very important that parents are aware that they need to read all summer long with the students."

As a parent of three, Reginal Nelson says cracking open a book with his kids every day is an investment in their futures.

Nelson explained, "I think it's very important that the children learn to read at an early age and expose them to different cultures and information to help them succeed in life."

The Children's Museum of Houston hosts story time every day of the week beginning at 11 a.m.

There's also free story time during the Museum's Free Family Nights on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m.