by Catherine Vasko
Launched in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA), Read Across America is the largest celebration of reading in the country. The initiative focuses on motivating youth to not just read annually but of the importance, value, and fun of it. You may see countless events, partnerships, and reading resources soon being offered through schools, education associations, libraries, and bookstores to celebrate throughout the month of March. Most commonly, the initiative is widely celebrated on Read Across America Day (March 2), the birthday of Theodore Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss. Some organizations like to kick off the month and celebrate during the entire first week of March, too. Remember your school’s (literal) green eggs and ham served for breakfast and teachers donning their tall, red, and white striped hats on this day growing up? I know I do!
With an estimated 45 million people participating, Read Across America Day is the biggest reading celebration in the country. Each year, the NEA provides a calendar of suggested titles under that year’s specific theme. Three books are featured on the organization’s website monthly – one each for young, middle-grade, and young adult readers — along with discussion suggestions and various activities to complete. “The titles and resources featured by NEA’s Read Across America include books that students can see themselves reflected in, as well as books that allow readers to see a world or a character that might be different than them,” the NEA website states. “Students need books that provide both windows and mirrors if we are going to create more readers, writers, and people who feel included and recognized, and who understand that the world is far richer than just their experiences alone.”
The organization invites participants to:
1. Read books with kids and use Read Across America’s resources to daily promote the message there is room in our community for all readers.
2. Use Read Across America to help kids enjoy and relate to what they read by linking books and reading to other experiences in their lives and on the school year calendar.
3. Make your community the place where Read Across America is on everyone’s calendar.
The NEA is committed to advancing the cause of public education, and as librarians, so are we. Read Across America is a great way to help new or reluctant readers become interested and excited about reading or help existing readers expand upon their interests, strengthen their reading comprehension, and explore new topics and themes in literature. To celebrate this initiative, the six Adams County Library branches will be offering some fun, engaging, and educational programs to celebrate Read Across America Week. Gettysburg Library will be hosting an interactive Dr. Seuss story time with songs, puzzles, and parachutes on Saturday, March 8th, at 10:00 AM to conclude their week-long celebration of reading. Similarly, Trone Memorial Library is hosting a “Celebrating All Things Seuss” program on Thursday, March 6th, from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, and will be accepting entries for their Dr. Seuss-themed Peep diorama contest throughout the month.
Countless other Seuss-related story times and programs will be offered throughout the library system to promote Read Across America. Make sure you stay in the loop with your local branch to see what they are offering, whether you ask in person, check social media, or browse events on the online calendar at www.adamslibrary.org/events.
Catherine Vasko is Branch Manager of the Jean Barnett Trone Memorial Library of East Berlin.