WHAT’S THE POINT?
Today we honor a man who has introduced countless boys and girls to the joy of reading.
“The more that you read, The more things you will know. The more that you learn, The more places you’ll go.”
— “I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!” By Dr. Seuss
Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known to the world as Dr. Seuss, was born 108 years ago today in Springfield, Mass.
Though he died more than 20 years ago, his influence on our culture remains as strong as ever. We suspect most Americans can name the titles of at least a few Seuss books.
One measure of Dr. Seuss’ popularity is the number of movies that have been inspired by his work. “The Lorax,” opening in theaters today, is just the latest of his books to reach the big screen.
In honor of Dr. Seuss, the National Education Association calls today Read Across America Day — a concept we wholeheartedly support. Dr. Seuss’ birthday is well worth celebrating, and there is no better way to celebrate than by opening a book and reading to a child.
Libraries in Bella Vista, Springdale and Fayetteville are celebrating today with readings and various Seuss-related activities for children. That’s the spirit.
Strong literacy skills provide children a foundation on which they may build for the rest of their lives.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports kids who are read to at home enjoy greater success in school compared to those who are not. Kids need to learn how to recognize letters and sounds; the only way to do that is to practice reading.
Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be a chore. If there’s one thing authors such as Dr. Seuss have shown us, it’s that reading can open doors to worlds we otherwise never would have imagined.
It can be fun.
Reading is especially fun when it’s a shared experience. The kids in Bentonville schools can tell you about that. As part of its “One Community, One Book” campaign, the school district distributed 6,000 copies of the book “The Sixty-Eight Rooms” to students in each of its elementary schools and two of its middle schools in January. Parents were encouraged to read the book with their families; meanwhile, teachers designed assignments around the book’s plot.
As a grand finale to the program, the book’s author, Marianne Malone, visited Bentonville this week to meet and talk with students.
This One Community, One Book idea takes the concept of a book club and expands it to include an entire town. Besides encouraging students and families to read together, it also gives people across a community something to discuss.
We think that would make Dr. Seuss smile.
So, whether in a box with a fox, or on a train in the rain, or on a boat with a goat, we encourage adults to read to their kids — today and every day.