Sequoia Boone, 11, said she reads for at least 30 minutes a day.

"It's interesting, and you get to learn more about people you didn't know about," said Sequoia, a sixth-grader at Southeast Middle School in Baltimore.

If officials at the Greater Baltimore Urban League have their way, the new Freedom Readers Program will prompt Sequoia and hundreds of other middle school pupils to read an hour or more daily.

The pilot program, which began yesterday at the Enoch Pratt Free Library's main branch, is designed to improve children's reading skills -- and make them enthusiastic about it -- by having them read aloud from inspirational and motivational works by people of color.

Maya Angelou, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes and Ralph Ellison are among the authors the children could get exposed to through Freedom Readers, said John C. Bugg III, vice president of programs and operations for the Urban League. He said officials hope to have the pupils meet such famous local African-Americans as renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson -- an author himself -- and former Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke.

"We'd like the kids to meet them and let them share their experiences," Bugg said. "We want this program to entail more than just reading."

In all, 165 pupils from 11 middle schools were chosen to participate in Freedom Readers during the next three years. Pupils will meet twice a week at their schools and once a quarter as a group, at the library, the Baltimore Urban League or other designated places, Bugg said.

Yesterday, many children couldn't contain their excitement as they walked around the library, some for the first time.

A few signed up for library cards, and they talked about books they've read or plan to read. They also paid attention as several people, including J. Howard Henderson, Urban League president, told them the importance of reading.

"In 10 or 15 years, you'll be leaders of the city, and we want you to be well-read, literate and prepared to take a leadership role," Henderson said. "We named this the Freedom Readers Program so you can free up your minds."

Southeast teacher JaKen Caston, who chaperoned 16 children at the Pratt yesterday, including Sequoia and Jimmy Crunkilton, 12, said he was excited when he learned about the Urban League's plans for Freedom Readers.

"Reading is important for the kids," Caston said. "Better readers are better learners."

Angela L. Mitchell, senior public affairs specialist for State Farm Insurance, which gave a $10,000 grant to help fund the project, said it's important that Freedom Readers is culturally significant as well as a reading exercise.

"We wanted to make it ... something the children could relate to, respond to and buy into," she said.

Mitchell said Freedom Readers hopes to attract more sponsors so that the three-year pilot program can reach more children.

Malcolm L. Dates, area academic officer for Baltimore middle schools, told the children that the program can be rewarding.

"Some of you read on different levels, some of you like different books, but all of you are here because you like reading," Dates said. "It's going to take a lot of reading for you to become a proficient reader. In this program, you get a chance to practice a lot of reading."

"Whatever your interests are, we'll have books for you to read," Dates said. "The next step is a commitment from you."