Jackie Conley
Wearing red-and- white-striped hats made out of paper, about 175 St.
Finbar Parish School students gathered in the school's auditorium
this week to salute Dr. Seuss and celebrate Read Across America Day.
Vice Mayor Marsha Ramos was among the guest readers who shared
such Seuss classics as "The Cat in the Hat," "The Sneetches and Other
Stories," and "Captain Underpants" with their captive audience.
"I prefer speaking in front of children," Ramos said. "When I read
to them, they are living in the moment with me."
Fourth-graders Sheridan Soderstrom, 10, and Elizabeth Pascual, 9,
said the best-selling children's author -- who would have turned 100
on Tuesday -- has inspired them to become writers when they grow up.
"He's a great writer, I love his books," Sheridan said.
Started by the National Education Assn. in 1998 as a way to get
kids excited about reading, Read Across America has become the
nation's largest reading event. The year-round program culminates
every year on or near Dr. Seuss's March 2 birthday.
"When children have a good foundation in reading, they do well in
life," said Lorraine Bellis-Mark, a St. Finbar parent who coordinated
the event. "We wanted to show the children that even adults enjoy
reading Dr. Seuss."
In addition to St. Finbar, students from several other Burbank
elementary schools took part in Read Across America activities over
the past couple of weeks.
Actress Amy Hill, who portrayed Mrs. Kwan in "The Cat in the Hat"
movie, read to students at Providencia Elementary, while students at
St. Robert Bellarmine School participated in "2 Cool 4 School," a
short-fiction story and illustration contest.
"The kids are learning," St. Robert's teacher and program founder
Katy Huntley said. "They might not realize it, but they are."
St. Finbar students, meanwhile, were rewarded with gift bags
containing among other things, pencils, coloring books, book markers
and note pads plus a coupon for a free meal at HomeTown Buffet
restaurant.
"This is a brilliant program," St. Finbar kindergarten teacher
Moira Graham said. "This brings a certain excitement and helps to
install the love of reading to children."
