Dr. Seuss remembered as kids launch read-a-thons

In honor of the birthday of the author of the Dr. Seuss books, hundreds of elementary school students in Nebraska will be taking part in a Cat-a-van today. Paula Monroe, an executive member of the National Education Association, says “The Cat in the Hat” is one focus of this year’s Read Across America program.
Monroe says, “Our goal always is to help students develop an early love of reading so as they grow up, they become lifelong learners because we know that children who read and are read to do better in school and in life.” More than 45-million readers across the country will take part in what’s billed as America’s largest reading celebration, in events from book balls to pajama read-ins to week-long read-ins.
Monroe says the Read Across America events are aimed at raising awareness about the critical importance of reading and literacy. Author and cartoonist Theodor Seuss Geisel died in 1991 and Tuesday would have been his 106th birthday. Monroe says Geisel created a legendary, timeless series of books.
“I remember Dr. Seuss and I remember sitting down with my three kids and reading the books,” Monroe says. “They just never get old. They’re something that children love and we have partnered with Dr. Seuss and 50 other education partners to make sure that this event continues to grow and to be an ongoing success.”
For more information about the program, visit: www.nea.org/readacross