A day to remember

It was no ordinary Monday as more than 250 students from Hermosa Beach, Inglewood and Lawndale were bused to the Hilton Los Angeles Airport March 3 to celebrate Read Across America.

After a rousing breakfast and a welcome from CTA Vice President-elect David A. Sanchez, students were divided into small groups and led away for various adventures in reading. Hilton employees from every department had volunteered to read to students.

Afterwards, everyone reassembled to watch the Mira Costa High School drama students' rendition of "The Ugly Duckling." Over a midmorning snack of punch and cookies, the children sang "Happy Birthday" to the late Dr. Seuss and departed with a stovepipe hat and a book to take home.

The event was one of many observances of Read Across America around the state:

• San Diego County - Students brought pillows, sleeping bags and books to share during a "read-in" at Pacific Rim Elementary School in Carlsbad.
• San Jose - Mayor Ron Gonzales read to students at Seven Trees Elementary School.
• Contra Costa County - The mayors of El Cerrito joined city government officials and law enforcement officers in reading Dr. Seuss passages to students at Castro Elementary School in El Cerrito.
• Solano County - A sixth-grade tap dance class danced to the song "Read a Book" at Ulatis Elementary School in Vacaville.
• Stockton - First-graders performed songs from the musical Seussical at school assemblies at Kennedy Elementary School. In addition, intermediate school students went to primary grades to host a read-a-thon.
• Sacramento - Parents, firefighters and teachers in stovepipe hats read to students at Hubert Bancroft Elementary School.
• Fresno - Broadcasting live from River Bluff Elementary in the Central Unified School District, radio disc jockeys aired readings of Dr. Seuss books and interviewed students and community leaders about the importance of reading.