Happy Read Across America Day

The love I bare for books was instilled in me at a young age, my parents actually taught me how to read before I was in Kindergarten, much to the surprise (and occasional dismay) of my teachers, and I was actively encouraged to read anything that piqued my curiosity. If I didn't know what a word meant I was encouraged to look it up in this huge dictionary my Dad kept on the bookcase in the living room, or maybe it only seemed huge because I was so small back then, either way I will never forget the way the weight of that book felt in my hands. I remember thinking to myself that it wasn't the book itself that was heavy but the accumulated knowledge within its pages. It is that love of books that has shaped who I am my whole life. I buy books like some other girls buy shoes, after all one can never own too many books.

It was this same love of books that set me apart in school for years. Because I had started reading so much earlier than most of the students at my school I was better at it and as a result learned faster. My experience with books began as a means of enjoyment and not just as a necessity of education. I have seen too many students who came to reading as an academic exercise and learned to look at it as a chore to be gotten over with as soon as possible, they couldn't imagine reading on their own just for fun because they had never really been shown that reading could be fun.

In 1997 a reading task force with the National Education Association started brainstorming ways to get kids excited about reading, the result was Read Across America day. "We hold pep rallies to get kids excited about football. We assemble to remember that Character Counts. Why don't we do something to get kids excited about reading? We'll call it 'NEA's Read Across America' and we'll celebrate it on Dr. Seuss's birthday." March 2nd 2016 marks the 19th year for the celebration.

Schools and libraries across the United States and around the world are holding special events themed around Dr. Seuss and his famous Cat in the Hat character today all with the goal of showing kids that reading is fun. Research has shown that children who are motivated and spend more time reading do better in school. The Read Across America program is active all year long and provides ideas activities and reading lists to help ignite a passion for reading in children.

So Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! And Happy Read Across America Day! If you would like more information on Read Across America and other programs run by the NEA click the Read Across America logo to go to the NEA website.