Read Across America

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Will1Held annually on March 2, Read Across America Day promotes reading for children and young adults of all ages. Its nationwide observance coincides with the birthday of Dr. Seuss, the American writer and illustrator best known and beloved for his children’s books. This program was created in 1997, by the National Education Association (NEA) as a yearly reading motivation and awareness initiative that aims to get every child in every community reading and encourages children to keep reading 365 days a year!

This year’s book is the Seuss classic, Oh, The Places You’ll Go. The NEA has also partnered with We Need Diverse Books, a group comprised of diverse authors and illustrators aiming to increase diversity in children’s and young adult literature. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate in this week long (March 2, – March 6, 2015) celebration of reading and literacy.

There are a couple of events scheduled around Cincinnati for 2015:

  • Cincinnati Museum Center and the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County are teaming up on Saturday, February 28, 10-5. The events include an adopt-a-book drive, a singing librarian, children reading to therapy dogs, and several scheduled story times throughout the day.
  • Joseph-Beth Booksellers of Crestview Hills is celebrating Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Party on Saturday, February 28, at 10:30 am.

RAA1Motivating children to read is an important factor in student achievement and creating lifelong successful readers. There is ample research to show that children who are motivated and spend more time reading do better in school. So, put on your red-and-white striped top hat and read to your little ones, or encourage your older kids to pick up a book for a half hour or more. And don’t forget to share with your children that reading is a wonderful source of entertainment and fun!

Here are a few fun ways to motivate your kids to read all year long:

• Set a good example by letting your children see you reading every day.
• Visit your public library often and have your kids sign up for their own library cards.
• Check out a local bookstore, drop in during a free story time, and give books as birthday or holiday gifts.
• Create a library for your children of new or used books.
• Subscribe to a children’s magazine; read it with your kids every month.
• Read to your children, have an older sibling read to a younger one, or have the whole family set aside some time to read together.

raaPick up a good book and have fun!

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

NEA’s Read Across America Poem

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Lisa Springer
I am a native Cincinnatian, born and raised on the West Side and currently settled across the river in Northern Kentucky. I’m a former Highlander, Bearcat, Falcon, and Fulbright Scholar. My greatest challenge hitherto is the one I love the most: being a Mom to an energetic eight-year-old boy. When not working full-time at one of the city’s great hospitals, I’m trying to fit in all there is to do in this wonderful city – and there is certainly A LOT to do! As one who loves to read, I am an advocate for the public library and go multiple times a week. You can often find me at Music Hall enjoying the ballet, opera, and orchestra. I am an introvert, a bit of a foodie, an NPR listener, a pessimist who likes to think she’s a realist, a middle child, an ex-wife and amicable co-parent, a fiancée, and much, much more. I feel lucky to have grown up in Cincinnati and to be raising my own child in this wonderful city.

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