WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to promote a lifelong love of books and improve children’s reading skills across the nation, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are once again leading the national effort to designate March 2nd as “Read Across America Day.”  The U.S. Senate approved the Collins-Reed Read Across America resolution encouraging parents to read with their children and honoring beloved children’s author Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, for his efforts to make reading fun for kids of all ages.  This year, the 21st annual Read Across America Day coincides with what would have been Geisel’s 114th birthday.

“Literacy is the foundation of all learning.  Read Across America Day highlights the importance of reading for children’s development and academic success,” said Senator Reed.  “Read Across America Day also encourages adults to set a good example by picking up a book and helping instill a love of reading in children.”

Sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA), the first annual Read Across America Day celebration was held on March 2, 1998, when organizers sought to facilitate “the largest celebration of reading this country has ever seen.”  That annual tradition will continue this year in cities and towns across the United States, with more than 45 million readers nationwide expected to participate at libraries, schools, hospitals, town halls and churches. 

Senator Reed will also be attending a daylong “Celebrity Read-A-Thon” event, hosted by National Education Association of Rhode Island (NEARI), on Saturday, March 3rd at the Warwick Mall.  The event will be one of many reading events taking place throughout Rhode Island and across the nation this week. 

Senator Reed has worked for years in support of child literacy initiatives.  He has championed dedicated federal funding for school libraries, and the Every Student Succeeds Act included an authorization for his Innovative Approaches to Literacy program that has provided more than $150 million to support effective school library programs and help more children learn to read.  A senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Reed has also successfully led efforts to provide resources to support public libraries and other children’s literacy initiatives in annual appropriations laws. 

More information about Read Across America Day events and additional resources for parents and teachers to help their children learn to love reading are available on the Read Across America page on the NEA’s website.