Centre News

Each year, Read Across America Day takes place on March 2, the
birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, the beloved Dr. Seuss.

Dr. Seuss, author of more than 50 children's books

“You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child.”

Centre College students share this sentiment, the motto for the 2010 Read Across America Day. The annual event, organized by the National Education Association, takes place on March 2, Dr. Seuss’s birthday.

The idea for Read Across America began in 1997 when several NEA employees decided that just as schools hold pep rallies to get students excited about football, the association should hold a reading day to spark children’s passion for books.

This year, the NEA expects 45 million children and adults to participate in Read Across America. (They also predict that 480,000 red and white striped stovepipe hats will be worn during that day.) And Centre students and community members will be included in that 45 million.

“I expect that about 20 students will participate in this year's event,” says Kiara Roberts ’12 of Louisville. “Approximately 25 to 30 members of the Centre community participate each year.”

These readers will visit classrooms at local elementary schools such as Junction City, Hogsett and Tolliver, where they will read for about 30 minutes.

Roberts, who is not only helping to organize Centre’s Read Across America effort but also will be reading to a classroom of students herself, is eager for the event.

“I’m looking forward to the genuine excitement that these elementary school students will express when I read to them!” she says.