Dr. Seuss and Read Across America
We applaud the effort to instill a love books and reading in our children
The photos came in from across Plumas County last week featuring red and white hats, smiling children and books, lots of books. Local schools celebrated the written word joining their counterparts across the country in the annual Read Across America event, which is scheduled each year to coincide with Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March 2.
At Quincy Elementary, the week was marked with an assembly, dress-up days, book fair, guest readers and special activities — all in an effort to instill the students with an appreciation of reading and books. Similar happenings were held at the other elementary schools throughout the county, with community members joining in the fun — helping children experience the pleasure of reading and the worlds that it can open, is an invaluable gift.
We at Feather Publishing’s family of community newspapers want to be one of the first to publiclyapplaud all of the efforts that went into this anticipated and appreciated event. A newspaper, while certainly a different genre than a Dr. Seuss book, is all about an appreciation for the written word, and even more specifically the printed word. In an age when more and more people are reading their novels on a tablet and their news on a smart phone, we have some 20,000 readers that still treasure the time-honored experience of holding a book or a newspaper — whether it be weathered and worn or fresh off the press.
It was gratifying to see the photos of Sarah Richards, the Quincy area CHP commander, reading to a classroom filled with children, and in Chester, former sixth-grade teacher Greg McIntire reprised his annual appearance as Dr. Seuss. After all, he shares the same birthday as the legendary author.
Is there anyone of our readers who at some point in their life didn’t hear the story of “The Cat in the Hat” or “Green Eggs and Ham” or one of Seuss’ other popular books. Now, whole new generations are reading about Thing One and Thing Two.
Our world is changing quickly and recent months have been especially challenging. We can’t think of a better diversion than the ability to pick up a book and slip off into another place or time — even if just for a little while. And last week’s activities reinforced that joy for our children as well.
