Rufus Morris Jr. is a film and music producer, author and educator passionate about inspiring and empowering young minds. He is the creative force behind Kingdom Entertainment Studios, Nineveh Treehouse Village Learning studio, School of the heARTS and the highly anticipated fantasy novel Nineveh. "Believing is Seeing" the first volume in the captivating Nineveh Fantasy Book Series, designed for readers ages 10 and older.

 

A native of Syracuse, New York, and now based in Atlanta, Ga. Morris’s multifaceted career has been a testament to his unwavering commitment to making a positive impact. In his earlier years, he made waves in the music industry as "Skratch," releasing his first professional rap music record in 1989. As an accomplished recording artist, popular DJ and radio personality on Power 102.1FM, a radio station Morris co-owned and operated he became a neighborhood celebrity and entrepreneur, owning multiple businesses.

 

However, as he watched his community grapple with rising crime, violence, and youth mental health issues, he realized the profound impact of the culture he was contributing to. In 2001, driven by his faith and a desire to make a positive difference, he founded the School of the heARTS Film & Music Academy, a non-profit youth training organization, and Kingdom Entertainment Studios®, a film and music production company dedicated to creating positive and inspiring content through films, music, books, and other multimedia platforms.

 

In his Nineveh Fantasy Book series, Rufus weaves a rich tapestry of lessons and messages, encompassing themes of friendship, teamwork, sacrifice, faith and overcoming fears. Readers are guided on a transformative journey that addresses issues like substance abuse, loss and empowers them to persevere in pursuing their dreams despite adversity.

 

Rufus Morris Jr.'s passion for empowering youth shines through his work. His dedication has been recognized with program funding awards and "best practices" recognition from the New York State Education Department, Syracuse City School District and the US Department of Education. He has also collaborated with Atlanta's Fulton County Arts & Culture organization to develop Film and Music summer programs for at-risk inner-city youth.

​

Nineveh® Christian Fantasy Book Series is an epic parable of the Kingdom of Heaven. As an author, Rufus Morris Jr. seamlessly weaves invaluable life lessons and biblical truths into the pages of these books. Offering young readers a captivating escape into a world filled with adventure, the supernatural and the enduring power of a strong Spirit. Join him on this epic journey and discover the transformative hidden mysteries of "Nineveh" and the inspiring stories yet to come in this enchanting series.

​

About our Youth Literacy Bedtime Story Fantasy Film Camps: @Nineveh Treehouse® We Make Reading Fun! We offer edu-tainment/film and voice acting reading camps for youth ages 4-12 years old (online or at a studio location). Enroll today or sign up for upcoming Nineveh Treehouse® Bedtime Story Fantasy Film Camp email notifications at: info@ntreehouse.org

​

Experience The Immersive Nineveh Treehouse® Fantasy Film & Voice Acting Literacy Film Camps for youth ages 4-12 years old, where kids don’t just read stories—they create them. Participants wear their favorite pajamas and step inside our immersive virtual Fantasy World of Nineveh, where they peek behind the scenes of the production of "Nineveh Treehouse® Village Sleepover" fantasy kids series. Participants work together to plan a bedtime story, perform voice lines, and collaborate with our team to produce a beautiful, 3D-illustrated Nineveh Treehouse® eBook that they can take home along with a digital video of their fantasy film camp highlights to share with family and friends. Select campers may even be transformed into original 3D characters to include in the eBook based on their film camp photos (with parent/guardian consent). Along the way, campers learn studio & film set etiquette, build reading comprehension, literacy, vocabulary, and confidence through scriptwriting, story mapping, and table reads - "Because when kids make the story, they can’t wait to read it." - Rufus Morris Jr.

 

Please Note: Nineveh Treehouse® Bedtime Story Fantasy Film Camps are filmed at a Sound Stage Studio location with NO seating. Though there are some areas on the sound stage's floor with artificial grass, we encourage ALL participants to wear pajamas (with no logos and NO green colors) and bring their own sleeping bag with plush pillow for bedtime story seating at these events.

 

Literacy is the foundation of all learning. Reading with children puts them on a path to success. Reading with Nineveh Treehouse® makes that path fun to travel.

​

THE LITERACY CRISIS: Why Nineveh Treehouse® Matters. Here’s the latest data on U.S. literacy statistics for children roughly between ages 5–12 who typically span kindergarten through fourth grade:

​

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) – Reading Proficiency

• In 2024, 40% of fourth graders scored below basic in reading, meaning they struggle with the fundamental reading skills expected for their grade level Parents.

• Meanwhile, 33% of eighth graders also scored below basic (though that extends beyond the 12-year-old range) Parents.

• An alternative perspective from another source states 67% of fourth graders and 60% of eighth graders achieved at least a basic reading level—the lowest rates since 1992 The Wall Street Journal.

  • This implies roughly 33% of fourth graders are below basic (aligning with the 40%–67% basic proficiency figures).

 

Broader Perspective on Child Literacy

• A report indicates that 34% of fourth graders read below the basic level, while 31% read below the proficient level People.com.

• Another aggregation suggests about 1 in 4 children in the U.S. “grew up unable to read,” and that 40% of children cannot read efficiently Mission: Graduate.

 

Trends & Concerns

• The decline in reading for pleasure poses a significant threat to literacy development and overall reading engagement:

  • In 1984, 35% of 13-year-olds read for fun almost daily; by 2023, this dropped to 14%, with 31% never reading for fun Vox.

• Experts warn this decline may hinder vocabulary growth, background knowledge acquisition, critical thinking, and resistance to misinformation Vox.

• Contributing factors include increased screen time, reduced library funding, pandemic-related disruptions, and a rise in standardized testing focus ParentsThe Wall Street Journal Vox.

 

Summary Snapshot

Age Range / GradeKey Statistics

4th Graders (~9–10 y/o)– ~40% below basic reading level ParentsThe Wall Street Journal
– 34% below basic, 31% below proficient People.com

Overall Child Literacy– ~25% of children struggle to read Mission: Graduate
– 40% cannot read efficiently Mission: Graduate

Reading for Pleasure– Major decline from 35% (1984) to 14% (2023) for daily reading among teens Vox

 

In conclusion, around a third to nearly half of children aged ~9–10 are reading below basic proficiency. Broader estimates suggest a quarter to 40% of children struggle with reading across early childhood and elementary years. Meanwhile, declining reading habits—especially recreational reading—compound the challenge.

​​​

For casting opportunities and project inquires please contact us at: info@ntreehouse.org