A personal message from Jimmy Kimmel

AMESBURY — When Carol Bartlett decided to let comedian and recent Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel know that his book “The Serious Goose” was her latest choice to read to kids on Read Across America Day, she never imagined receiving a box of swag and a personal message from the late-night TV host.

“I thought, ‘Oh, that’s great. I’m just going to send this off to Jimmy Kimmel and see.’ I just told him about the kids and how much they love this book because when I write something, I really like to know that somebody likes what I’ve written,” Bartlett said.

Bartlett, the secretary for Amesbury school Superintendent Elizabeth McAndrews, has dressed up as Mrs. Seuss and read to first- and second-graders on Read Across America Day each March for the last 18 years.

Read Across America, launched in 1998 by the National Education Association and guided by a committee of educators, is celebrated each March 2. It is the nation’s largest celebration of reading, according to the NEA website.

The year-round program focuses on motivating young children and teens to read through events, partnerships and reading resources.

This year, Bartlett decided to switch things up and discovered “The Serious Goose” at a local bookstore.

The picture book – written, illustrated and lettered by Kimmel – challenges young readers to bring the silliness out of a very serious goose. “The Serious Goose” was published in 2019 and is Kimmel’s only book.

Bartlett said she loved the interactivity the book offered, describing a part in the middle where it opens to a mirror, encouraging kids to make goofy faces for the serious goose.

“I bought them all mirrors so they could make funny faces when we got to it,” she said. “So that when it came to this point, the teacher passed out the mirrors.”

After some research, Bartlett found where she could send a letter to Kimmel. She reached out to him without any expectation of hearing back.

“Then last week, I got this box,” she said.

Inside the box was not only a hat and shirt from “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” but also a signed copy of Kimmel’s book with a message and a doodle of the goose.

“Dear Carol, AKA Mrs. Seuss, thanks for your nice note – Bad News for the Goldfish but great for me! All my best to you and the kids,” Kimmel wrote, referring to the book Bartlett used to read before his, “Memoirs of a Goldfish.”

Bartlett said she was very touched by Kimmel’s heartfelt response.

“It would have been great if he just signed it, but the fact that he actually illustrated the goose was just the coolest thing,” Bartlett said.

Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.