One might find it unusual to gather at the local post office to read books, but it’s something Lester Postmaster Linda Smith is giving a try.

Today, Smith is hosting her second reading session with local children in the Lester Post Office lobby, where her focus is to read animal books to children kindergarten-second grade.

Smith said animal stamps that feature animal characters from books, which served as an inspiration for her venture, are currently available at the post office. The stamps were released this year.

“It’s reading month and we have these animal character stamps. Hey, why don’t we do the animal character books,” Smith said.

The stamps feature such characters as Wilbur from “Charlotte’s Web,” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”

She has heard the stamps are selling well in other places.

Wednesday was the first day she hosted a reading session at the post office, located in Lester. Smith reads to the children and invites them to read as well. She said she invited kindergartners and first and second graders who attend West Limestone High School as well as other children in the area.

One of the books Smith read to the children Wednesday was “Maisy Cleans Up,” by Lucy Cousins. “Maisy Cleans Up,” is about cleaning and getting a tasty treat when the work is done.

Rebecca Meyer, 17, of Lester brought four of her brothers and sisters to the reading session.

“I’m just hoping that they’ll, you know, get a chance to be with some other kids and read stories together and have just a good time…” she said.

If the event goes well, it could become a monthly or yearly event at the post office.

The children’s book animal stamps are available at the U.S. Post Office in Lester as well as other locations.

The sheet of 16 stamps features The Very hungry Caterpillar from the book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” by Eric Carle; Maisy from the book “Maisy’s ABC,” by Lucy Cousins; Curious George from the book “Curious George Flies A Kite,” by Margret and H.A. Rey; Fox in Socks from the book “Fox in Socks,” by Dr. Suess, along with others.