PANORAMA CITY : ‘Miss October’ Shows Off Her Love of Books

Hoping to dispel the stereotypes that Playboy Playmates are bimbos, last October’s Playmate of the Month spent an hour reading Dr. Seuss to children Wednesday as the guest of a Panorama City public library.

She encouraged them, of course, to not just look at the pictures.

Librarians hoped the celebrity would generate interest in reading among children.

“People told me when I was little that I could never be a model,” said Jennifer McCarthy, 21, sporting funky high heels, a Playboy bunny necklace and wire-rim reading glasses (and black slacks, sweater and vest). “I want these kids to realize that if you want to be something, go for it.”

The Playmate’s appearance drew plenty of reaction from library-goers. Surrounded by a group of 16 children, McCarthy read “Hippo Was Hot,” “Green Eggs And Ham” and “Too Much Noise.” Heber Rodriguez, 17, of North Hills, and buddy Diego Tiscareno, 18, of Panorama City watched in rapt attention a few feet away.

“I didn’t understand the stories, but I enjoyed them anyway,” smiled Rodriguez, who said he often comes to the library to study.

Others had a hard time buying the concept of a Playboy Playmate as a role model for reading.

“Nobody reads Playboy,” sneered Abe Khouri, 21, of Northridge, as he stole a glimpse of McCarthy.

One mother had a more unusual reaction.

She brought her three children to the reading believing that “October” was the storyteller’s last name. Then she discovered that it was actually “Miss October” of Playboy.

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh,” said the mother, who asked not to be identified. “I hope she’s not taking her clothes off here.”

Nor did the mother take any chances. By the time the green eggs and ham were devoured, she had shooed her clan out the door.

But such reaction did not throw McCarthy off her mission. As a preschool aide during her high school years in Chicago, McCarthy spent a year reading to small children. And she hopes some day to return to college to finish her degree in education.

If the library audience was an indication, it’s a career to which she could easily return.

“She was great,” said 7-year-old Shavella Brown, who is no stranger to being read to and sat patiently through all 30 minutes of story time.

“It’s nice to see somebody like that doing something good for the kids,” said Shavella’s mother, Gloria Brown, 26, of North Hills. “No matter what she does for a living, it shows she cares, and that’s good.”

McCarthy, who lives in Los Angeles, plans to be back in libraries again, hopefully as storyteller when the Northridge branch reopens after the earthquake.

Rodriguez and Tiscareno will be happy to provide the audience.

“A lot of our friends would be interested in hearing a story from her,” Rodriguez said.