Millions to celebrate annual NEA's Read Across America Day on March 2

WASHINGTON, March 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Oh, the places students will go when they open up a good book! The National Education Association (NEA) in partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, celebrates the 18th annual "Read Across America Day" on Monday, March 2, which is also the 111th birthday of author Dr. Seuss. Read Across America Day, which has grown into the nation's largest reading observance with more than 45 million participating, is sponsored by NEA with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Random House, and more than 30 national partners.

"As educators, we're constantly striving to connect with each child and discover his passions and unlock her potential. NEA's Read Across America is just one of the ways that we reach children with a very important message that reading is fundamental to being a life-long learner," said NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia. "With more than 45 million people, young and old, participating every year, NEA's Read Across America is not just a phenomenon—it's a reading movement."

As part of tens of thousands of events happening from coast-to-coast, NEA will kick off a special reading celebration in Los Angeles with Eskelsen Garcia and special guest readers. NEA's award-winning Cat-a-Van Reading Tour will deliver Seussian-style reading inspiration next week when it hits the road on March 2 for a weeklong, 3,200-mile trek. Stops along the Cat-a-Van reading route include Tulsa, Oklahoma; Garland, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Pasadena, Texas; Beaumont, Texas; Lafayette, Louisiana; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The tour ends with an event at the Louisiana Children's Museum in New Orleans on Friday, March 6.

More than 9,000 special stovepipe "reading" hats, books and other goodies to promote reading, totaling more than $100,000, will be distributed during NEA's tour and signature events, which will include visits to high-needs schools. NEA will provide $15,000 in library grants to support the schools visited during the NEA's Cat-a-Van Reading Tour.

The tour will also promote the kick-off of Dr. Seuss's "Kid, You'll Move Mountains" nationwide search  for kids ages 5–18 who excel in the areas of STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. NEA has partnered with Dr. Seuss Enterprises on this exciting search that celebrates the 25th anniversary of Dr. Seuss's last book, Oh, the Places You'll Go! This contest recognizes and celebrates children nationwide who are living the message of this book. Visit www.kidsmovingmountains.com  to learn more.*

"Incorporating STEAM into reading activities builds bridges that strengthen learning all year long," said Fran Bellinger, a physical education teacher in Kaneohe, Hawaii, who heads the NEA's Read Across America Advisory Committee.

Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Random House Children's Publishing have also produced a special teacher's guide featuring books and activities focused on STEAM. Available online, the "STEAM Read Across America Guide" includes, tips, resources and book lists for parents, teachers, students and educators.

"Good education inspires students' natural curiosity, imagination and desire to learn," added Eskelsen Garcia. "Of all the things we teach our kids, the most important is a love of learning, and when they unlock that potential, oh, the places they'll go!"

For more information about NEA's Read Across America, visit www.nea.org/readacross
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About NEA

The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. Learn more at www.nea.org.

About Dr. Seuss

Theodor "Seuss" Geisel is quite simply one of the most beloved children's book authors of all time. His long list of awards includes Caldecott Honors for McElligot's Pool, If I Ran the Zoo, and Bartholomew and the Oobleck, the Pulitzer Prize, and eight honorary doctorates. Works based on his original stories have won three Oscars, three Emmys, three Grammys and a Peabody. Geisel wrote and illustrated 45 books during his lifetime, and his books have sold more than 650 million copies worldwide. Though Theodor Geisel died on September 24, 1991, Dr. Seuss lives on, inspiring generations of children of all ages to explore the joys of reading. For more information about Dr. Seuss and his works, visit Seussville.com. 

About Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.

The primary focus of the Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. is to protect the integrity of the Dr. Seuss books while expanding beyond books into ancillary areas. This effort is a strategic part of the overall mission to nurture and safeguard the relationship consumers have with Dr. Seuss characters. Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) said he never wanted to license his characters to anyone who would "round out the edges." That is one of the guiding philosophies of Dr. Seuss Enterprises. Audrey S. Geisel, the widow of Dr. Seuss, heads Dr. Seuss Enterprises as CEO.

Random House Children's Books is the world's largest English-language children's trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, ebooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children's Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. Random House is the longtime home of the beloved and bestselling Dr. Seuss books which continue to make learning to read fun for millions of children everywhere. The company's website, Kids@Random (randomhousekids.com) offers an array of activities, games and educational resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children's Books is a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

*Contest details: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. MANY WILL ENTER, FEW WILL WIN. Open to residents of the 50 US/DC who are 13 years or older. Minors must have parent's/legal guardian's permission to participate. Contest ends 3/29/15 at 11:59:59 PM ET. See Official Rules at www.kidsmovingmountains.com for complete details, including entry instructions, judging criteria, prizes, restrictions, etc. Void where prohibited.  Sponsor: Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.

SOURCE National Education Association

Related Links

http://www.nea.org