Making reading fun

Dr. Seuss' birthday provides kids, community chance to get 'wacky'

By William Johnson
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State Rep. Elbert Guillory reads Green Eggs and Ham to the students at Northeast Elementary on Monday. (Photo by William Johnson)

Monday was Dr. Seuss' birthday, and in schools throughout the area, hundreds of volunteers put on tall red and white stripped Cat in the Hat top hats to share the joy of reading.

The 20 student's in Yvette Laney's pre-kindergarten class at Northeast Elementary School were typical, with parents and guest readers taking turns entertaining the youngsters with various books by the good doctor.

"Our goal is to have every child read to by a caring adult," Laney said. "If we can encourage the children to read on their own, they will become not only better readers, but will do better in all their studies."

All of the children in her class had their own red and white striped hats made from construction paper, but Laney spent part of the morning making the children bow ties as well. "One of the students pointed out the Cat in the Hat has a big red bow tie. She said we need bow ties as well," Laney laughed.

Student Madison Zachary said she likes the Dr. Seuss books because of all the rhyming words. "They are fun to say," Madison said.

For student Kalaysha Ford, it was the pictures that fascinate her. "I want to be an artist when I grow up," Kalaysha said.

While fun is what the children see, the birthday party, part of the National Education Association's annual Read Across America effort, has a deeper purpose.

Madison's mother, Quzette Zachary, one of the guest readers for the day, said it is never too early to instill a love of reading in a child.

"The earlier they start reading, the better they will do in school," Zachary said.

She said Dr. Seuss' books are a great place to start. Some of the books can be read by a child who only knows a handful of words. The simple rhyming scheme and repetition also makes it easier for them to learn and understand new words.

Guest readers at the school included Opelousas Police Chief Perry Gallow and state Rep. Elbert Guillory among many others.

"I just love it," said Guillory, clearly having a good time. "I read these books many time to my own children."

At Southwest Elementary School, a dozen or so guest readers where on hand for the day, including Superintendent of Schools Michael Nassif and Opelousas High School Coach Kenneth Winfrey.

"We had a birthday party, complete with a cake and whistles," said Greta Elliot, the school's librarian, who organized the celebration.

To mark the special day, the school cafeteria even served green eggs for breakfast - a tribute to Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham book.

Sunset Elementary School Librarian Emma Jones, who coordinated events at her school, said the program has been a regular feature at local schools for the past 12 years.

She said the Seuss books, with colorful pictures, fun and rhyming stories are always a big hit with the children.

In her school, the older children in the speech and drama club read to the pre-kindergarten through third grade students in the morning.

Starting at 2 p.m., all the younger students assembled in the library for a Dr. Seuss birthday party with games and more reading by the principal and guest readers.

"This event is very important to us. The literacy rate in our parish is not what we want it to be. This encourages children to read. If we can encourage a child to read at an early age, it will improve their performance across the entire curriculum," Jones said.

Stacy Maiers with the National Education Association said the idea for Read Across America developed in 1997.

"In May 1997, a small reading task force at NEA came up with a big idea. 'Let's create a day to celebrate reading. We hold pep rallies to get kids excited about football. Why don't we do something to get kids excited about reading?'" Maiers said.

March 2, Dr. Seuss' birthday was chosen as the date for the program that seeks to focus the country's attention on how important it is to motivate children to read.

"The research is clear, children who are read to, and who read for pleasure, are significantly more successful in school than children who do not," Maiers said.

As for all the striped hats and green eggs and ham, Maiers said why not.

"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child."