Read Across America Day

We’re approaching a little known, yet very important holiday: Read Across America Day. This year marks the 19th annual celebration of reading that honors the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, on March 2.

Read Across America Day encourages every child in every community to celebrate reading. The National Education Association (NEA) and education leaders across the country will be visiting communities such as Dallas, Nashville, Phoenix, San Diego, Denver and Atlanta in the infamous Cat-a-Van (short for “Cat in the Hat” van). In prior years, some reading events began with “green eggs and ham” for breakfast. Others featured “cat in the hat” tours, reading challenges for children and NEA check presentations.

Recognizing the role that reading plays in lives and communities, athletes, actors and elected officials participate in Read Across America. PWNA and our reservation partners also understand the importance of reading and literacy. In addition to enhancing reading comprehension and motivating lifelong reading, research shows that children who are motivated to read spend more time reading and perform better academically.

Our reservation partners also emphasize some of the less obvious benefits of reading and literacy programs, such as providing a special opportunity for parent-child reading time and providing a positive activity in a geographically isolated community. Neither poverty nor isolation should prevent any child from having the opportunity to read and learn.

PWNA’s reading and literacy service provides children’s books, participation incentives and other supplies to help our partners encourage reading among 25,000 Native American students year-round. You can support reading on reservations by making a small gift today.