NJEA’s annual Read Across celebration in full swing

It’s that time of year again! It’s time to gather your favorite books and join the nationwide celebration of reading.  Monday, March 2, is Read Across America Day, and for the 20^th year running, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) is working to promote reading and literacy through its newly rebranded Read Across-NJ.

Read Across America is an annual celebration of reading that culminates this year on March 2, the day after what would have been the 116^th birthday of prolific children’s book author Theodor Seuss Geisel, known and loved worldwide as Dr. Seuss.

This year, through its newly rebranded Read Across-NJ program, NJEA is urging educators and students throughout the state to venture beyond Who-ville, the Jungle of Nool and Mulberry Street and explore the world and other cultures through the magic of books.

“NJEA is proud to continue our long-standing tradition of supporting Read Across,” said NJEA President Marie Blistan.  “It’s always one of our most popular programs of the year, and I am so proud that we can provide an opportunity to expand our students’ experiences and help them learn more about our diverse world.”

Nationwide celebration of reading

Nationwide, educators and communities are urged to take part and show children how to discover and explore new adventures through books.  Schools around the country will celebrate the day with reading fairs, assemblies, and other literacy-related events.  NJEA encourages community leaders to join local schools in their celebrations.

NJEA has made a major investment in Read Across-New Jersey and each year that commitment grows.  This year, NJEA is proud to spotlight the book, This Is How We Do It by Matt LaMothe. In this book, readers can spend a day in the lives of seven kids from around the world and see where they live, what they eat and how they play.

Cat visits—a long-standing NJEA tradition

In addition, thanks to NJEA’s ongoing passion to support childhood literacy in exciting ways, retired educators again traveled across the state in February and March dressed in seven-foot-tall professional Cat in the Hat costumes.  Collectively, they visited hundreds of schools, bringing the literacy message to thousands of students.  For the 10^th year running, the Cat will gift the library of each school he visits.  This year, each school will receive a copy of This Is How We Do It for students to enjoy.

Along the way, the Cat encountered the many creative ways that schools celebrate reading, including everything from read-ins and pajama parties to reading extravaganzas featuring politicians, pundits, sports celebrities and stars of television and movies.

To learn more about NJEA’s Read Across New Jersey celebration, visit www.njea.org/ranj  or check out our Twitter coverage at @NJEA.