D.C. - By popular demand, teachers nationwide have called upon the Cat in the Hat to come back and remind children to keep reading every day. Last spring an estimated 10 million children and adults celebrated reading on the March 2 birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss. NEA, the nation's largest organization of teachers and school staff, recognizes that good reading skills are the cornerstone to success. Research confirms that reading aloud to children is one important way to help them become successful readers, improve comprehension and develop a strong vocabulary.
Teachers know the more children read outside of school for fun, the better they do in school.
The larger than life cat in the trademark stovepipe hat is scheduled to greet children and adults across the country in a delightful quest to urge children to read and to remind adults to take a more active role in reading to children. Educators, parents, students, and concerned adults spent the day reading to children in a variety of settings, including schools, libraries, museums, and community centers. Last March, children and adults across the nation participated in a creative mix of events nationwide ranging from pajama party read-ins to green eggs and ham served at school cafeterias by local chefs. Even President Bill Clinton and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich got into the act by setting aside partisan differences long enough to support the reading campaign. Speaker Newt Gingrich read his favorite children's book, Corduroy , with first-graders at a D.C. elementary school while President Clinton used his weekly radio address to urge all Americans to read.