Riverside, Calif., March, 2002 -- La Sierra University President Dr. Geraty donned a symbol of Dr. Seuss fame, a tall red and white hat, to read the Seuss classic, "The Cat in the Hat," in his visit on Friday, March 1, with McAuliffe Elementary School.

Geraty and McAuliffe Elementary School joined classrooms across the nation and even parts of the world, as guests ranging from educators, politicians, NFL sports stars and musicians visited classrooms to take part in the NEA's (National Education Association) Read Across America, in its fifth year celebrating the joys of reading and honoring Dr. Seuss, whose birthday is March 2.

Teacher Lindsay Garza-Johanson said the students of her SDC (Special Day Class), a combination class of fourth, fifth, and sixth graders, were excited to have an important guest reader asking, "He's the president?" The kids quickly settled down around the table and were soon engrossed in Seuss's world of cat adventures.

Johanson appreciates visitors and special Dr. Seuss day themes saying, "We're able to focus on reading and language arts in general." She can take Seuss's characters and "run with it," helping make math interesting and involving other subjects like their special art project of colorful "Cat in the Hat" cutouts the kids were eagerly cutting and pasting to display around the room.

For more info on the NEA or Read Across America visit: http://www.nea.org/

NEA's Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2nd. It also gives NEA members, parents, caregivers and children the resources and activities they need to keep reading on the calendar 365 days a year. --NEA Website

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Story & photos by Kandi White