Read Across America Day is a literary highlight to salute Dr. Seuss

Sidney’s North Elementary School held its first “Grab your Hat and Read with the Cat” reading party to celebrate National Read Across America Day.

The school will also be hosting a Dr. Seuss/Read Across America book exchange during parent/teacher conferences at the school next Tuesday, March 5 from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, March 6 from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. as well.

Read Across America Day usually takes place on March 2, Dr. Seuss’ birthday, but this year schools around the country celebrated it Friday, March 1.

“Read Across America Day is an annual motivation and awareness program run by the NEA (National Education Association). The purpose of this special day of reading is to reinforce the benefits of reading to children and to remind everyone that reading can be fun,” said NEA representatives.

Not only does Read Across America Day emphasis the power and knowledge that is to be gained by reading, but it also celebrates “the most beloved children’s author in history.”

The special reading day began in 1997 and has increased in number of participants every year since.

Bringing this event to the Sidney elementary school is something that organizer and parent, Elisa Lecher said she has wanted to get established for a long time.

“Basically this is something that I have wanted to do at the schools for awhile. I have three kids and since the first one was in kindergarten I thought about doing this,” she said. “So I finally approached the schools about it and they were receptive.”

Lecher set it up so that The Cat in the Hat (provided by the Book Corner) came to read to North Elementary School students at 2:30 p.m. this Friday and a cupcake and milk party ensued to celebrate Seuss. The Cat in the Hat of course read the famous story The Cat in the Hat to students.

The proud parent, who also serves as the event and family events coordinator for the North and South Elementary School’s booster clubs, went around to different businesses in town the past couple months to see if they would provide donations of books or supplies for the causes. She said that the local support was great and the party was a success.

For the book exchange occurring next week during parent/teacher conferences kids can bring in gently used books from home to trade starting this Monday and continuing until Tuesday afternoon, said Lecher.

“We are trying to promote to the kids to bring gently used books they are no longer using from home to the school for the exchange,” she said. “It’s a bring a book, take a book type thing just to help kids who maybe don’t have the opportunity to have a lot of books to expand their libraries at home and to get them books that other kids aren’t using anymore and to update to new books.”

Every child who comes to their conference with their parents will receive a book bag to fill with great donated items.

“When they come to the school we will have prizes, door prizes, book bags, bookmarks and all kinds of stuff to get the kids excited about continuing to read so that they don’t stop,” said Lecher.

To donate books to the exchange you can drop them off at the book drop off box located at North Elementary and everyone in the community is welcome to donate.

“I’m sure we will have plenty of books for any kid that wants to go home with a “new” gently used book,” she said.

Lecher said that Reading Across America Day is to keep the reading spirit alive in students.

“The motto that we are using this year is the quote from Dr. Seuss, ‘The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.’ We want kids to know if they keep reading it will take them places,” said Lecher. “Anytime is the right time to read.”

One of the National Education Association’s Read Across America Poems is for parents and states:

You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild,

To pick up a book and read with a child.

You’re never too busy, too cool, or too hot,

To pick up a book and share what you’ve got.

In schools and communities,

Let’s gather around,

Let’s pick up a book,

Let’s pass it around.

There are kids all around you,

Kids who will need

Someone to hold,

Someone to read.

Come Join us March 1st

Your own special way

And make this America’s

Read to Kids Day.

“I think there are a lot of normal ‘everydays’ in life and this is a day to have a celebration,” said Lecher. “I want the kids to get excited about reading and to celebrate one author that did a great job in promoting reading to kids and getting them fired up about the places it can take them.”

Lecher said that she hopes to expand the book exchange and celebration day to Sidney’s South Elementary School as well next year.