Read Across America: Got books?

By Frank Wells and Sheri Miyamoto

It's that time of year again. No, we're not talking about the holidays. Read Across America is on the way and will be here before you know it. March 2 will mark the sixth year that NEA's celebration of reading takes place nationwide, and it's not too soon to begin planning activities and events for your school site.

The theme in California this year is "Happy Readers Come From California. Got Books?" Children's book illustrator Steve Gray, known for his work on

Farmer McPeepers And His Missing Milk Cows

, has allowed CTA to use his cow artwork and specially adapted the artwork to help promote the event. All members will have access to the art and materials through the CTA website. Reasonably priced cow neckties, cow pencils, cow pencil cases and even squeezable "stress cows" will be available at upcoming CTA meetings and conferences.

A packet with brochures, bookplates, certificates, recommended reading lists, and reading tips will be sent to all local chapters in January. Many of those same materials will also be available on the CTA website in late January. Additional materials are available from NEA [www.nea.org/readacross].

Here are some things you can get started on now to make this year's Read Across America memorable for you and your students:

• Remind your principal about the event and refer him or her to the CTA or NEA website. If March 2 conflicts with your school calendar, feel free to plan your celebration for another day that week or even the week before or after.
• Consult your school librarian, who may have event ideas and resources to offer.
• Invite "guest readers" to visit your school and read to students. Visits from police officers, firefighters, radio/television personalities, athletes, political figures and other community members can have an impressive effect on young people. Ask your guests to tell your students why reading is important in their lives and what their favorite books were when they were children.
• Share your plans with your colleagues. Pledge to participate on the NEA website and keep your local association office informed of what you're doing at your school. Let your local media know about your event.

CTA is partnering with Scholastic Books, Barnes and Noble, the Hilton, the California School Librarians Association, the Los Angeles Times, and Northland Publishing to promote this year's event. "We look forward to working with them and with you to make this another great year for Read Across America," says CTA President Barbara E. Kerr.