I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Even Charlotte Sting players Sheri Sam and Tammy Sutton-Brown were screaming for ice cream on Tuesday at a Charlotte-area YWCA where they read a “Rugrats” book to an attentive audience of 25 kindergarten, first and second graders and then made ice cream from scratch for everyone.

The Reading Timeout was part of the Read to Achieve program, a WNBA initiative that promotes the value of reading and literacy, while also encouraging families and adults to read regularly with young children.

“Reading is fundamental,” Sutton-Brown said. “Being able to read is crucial to having a successful life, and by being here, we help the kids see the importance of reading. This is a way that we can communicate to them.”

After the reading concluded, Sam and Sutton-Brown asked questions to get the kids enthusiastic about both reading and ice cream. The kids also had the opportunity to ask questions of the players, and most were curious about their professional basketball careers.

“Today we could tell that the kids were really enjoying themselves, which is great because reading is important,” Sam said. “This is a school environment, so being here and making ice cream makes it more fun for them.”

Sting mascot, Buggsy, then joined the event and passed out goody bags, complete with Sting merchandise and a book. Everybody in attendance then took the Read to Achieve Pledge, which encourages children to learn and practice reading every day.

Sam and Sutton-Brown then transformed the milk and cream into ice cream, and the kids received a brief science lesson about the process as it was occurring. Then everyone enjoyed a summer ice cream treat, adoring every part of it.

“I love ice cream and basketball,” said Jackiun, a child who participated in the event. “This was really cool. I’ve never met any basketball players before.”

But it wasn’t only the kids who had fun. The players had an enjoyable time as well.

“I love the interaction with the kids,” Sutton-Brown said. “This was just a great experience. I really enjoyed it.”

“I always like working with kids,” Sam said. “You can always see how excited they are, and it makes it all worth it.”

Tonya Braxton, the associate director of youth development at the YWCA, also recognized the benefits of having outside volunteers help with the educational lessons.

“The kids absolutely love it when we have people prominent in the community come in and talk to them,” she said. “They have fun, and they learn something, too.”