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Henry Winkler |
Award-winning actor and director Henry Winkler, best known for his role as The Fonz on the long-running series "Happy Days," has agreed to serve as honorary chair of California's observance of Read Across America March 4.
Winkler has recently co-written a series of Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers about a high-spirited fourth-grader with learning difficulties.
Hank Zipzer: The Mostly True Confessions of the World's Best Underachiever
was inspired by Winkler's experiences growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia.
Many of the programs he's produced and directed are aimed at families and children, including "Happily Ever After" for PBS; "Who Are the Debolts and Where Did They Get Their 19 Kids?" for ABC; "Schoolbreak Specials" for CBS; and "After School Specials" for ABC. Other recent series include the SciFi Channel's "Sightings," Disney's "So Weird," and Warner Brothers' "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch," among others.
Winkler will appear in public service announcements publicizing Read Across America and will help host a special RAA event for 250 local children sponsored by CTA and the Hilton Los Angeles Airport on March 4.
After breakfast, the children will break into small groups for reading activities with volunteers from the hotel staff. When the groups reconvene for cookies, Winkler will read to them and talk about how important reading has been in his life. The hotel will hold a book giveaway and CTA will present the students with goody bags to take home.
CTA kicked off RAA 2004 with a presentation of a skit from Where the Wild Things Are, performed by Carole Mathews' drama club students from Manhattan Beach, at the Jan. 24-25 meeting of CTA's State Council of Education. Tables at State Council and other CTA conferences feature mugs, pencils and book bags emblazoned with the CTA RAA theme, "Read...for the Ride of Your Life." Also available at the displays are free posters from NEA, which originated Read Across America, and Major League Soccer, which is encouraging students to "Get a Kick Out of Reading."
For more information and ideas on how to participate, visit CTA's website. It includes a link to details about NEA's observance.