Third Graders Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ 118th Birthday, Take Part in Read Across America

Shipley third graders participated in the National Education Association’s annual Read Across America event and celebrated Dr. Seuss’s 118th birthday on Wednesday, March 2. The celebration entailed lots of reading, pajamas, and special Seuss-inspired snacks.

The NEA’s Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Shipley students joined thousands of other classrooms across the country in their celebration.

So why Dr. Seuss? “He epitomizes a love of children and learning,” said third grade teacher Susan Reilly. “Also, his use of rhyme makes his books an effective tool for teaching young children the basic skills they need to be successful readers (not to mention life lessons). When we celebrate Dr. Seuss and reading, we send a clear message to America's children that reading is fun and important.”

Or as one third grader put it, “Dr. Seuss is the father of books because he makes kids want to read and learn.”

View all the photos from the Read Across America celebration in Shipley’s online photo gallery.