For many children, celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday is just as important as it is for them to learn how to read his books, which is why Mae Smythe Elementary School brought the National Education Association’s annual Read Across America event to its classrooms on March 3.

Read Across America is a reading motivation and awareness program calling children in communities nationwide to celebrate reading on or around Dr. Seuss’ birthday by providing a fun opportunity for them to have adults read to them in their classrooms.

“Seeing adults take time out of their schedule to read a picture book to children was a wonderful way for students to grasp the importance of reading and learning to read,” said Mae Smythe’s librarian Tricia Moore. “Cultivating this love of learning is one of the most important parts of our jobs as educators, and it is one that our district believes essential.”

Readers included numerous Pasadena ISD employees, retired teachers and librarians, the manager of the Red Lobster on Spencer and high school students. The students listened intently as the volunteer read some Dr. Seuss classics including “The Cat in the Hat” and “Horton Hears a Who.” Some readers even brought stuffed characters to go with their Dr. Seuss books.

“I loved seeing our students light up when they some of the characters our volunteers brought,” Moore said. “The books and the volunteers were enough for the students to get excited. They absolutely loved it.”

The event also served as an opportunity for teachers to help motivate the students about the reading part of the TAKS test, which will be taken this week. Moore said the experience was a great way for the students to learn the importance of reading from others and to see the personal experiences that different readers can bring to a story.

“Students need to see that reading is important, not just the week of the Reading TAKS test, but for the rest of their lives,” she said. “Hopefully seeing different walks of life come through our classrooms helped our students realize that reading is not a test to take, but a lifelong skill that is essential in being whoever you are when you grow up.”