Julie Metz, former librarian at
took a break today from her job as a homemaker to her husband and two children to
read to more than 800 kindergarten- through eighth-grade students.
She dressed in a fuzzy, Cat in the Hat uniform, drew three
whiskers on either side of her blackened nose and secured a tall, red-and-white-striped
hat before she stepped in front of her first audience of students to read
"Cat in the Hat," by Dr. Seuss.
By the end of the day,
had read the book, riddled with tongue-twisters, 10 times.
She was one of several people who masqueraded as Cat in the
Hats at local elementary schools today to kick-off a weeklong celebration of
Read across
and the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.
"A lot of parents commute now and don't have time to
read to their kids,"
said after she gave an energetic reading to a roomful of fifth-graders. "I
love to get the kids into it and show them that reading is fun and
important."
Eight-year-old Sarah Sailors needs little convincing to
crack open a book. She says her nose is in Disney books two hours a night.
"I like how the characters do funny stuff," Sarah
said.
Her 13-year-old sister, Elizabeth Sailors, says she prefers
sci-fi books, and 13-year-old Anthony Auten leans toward mystery books.
"If you figure out what you're interested in, you can
probably find a book about it," Anthony said.
Ten-year-old Arashdeeb Dhadwar, who considers fantasy books
her favorite, said she's excited to read to younger students later this week.
"It's fun to set an example," she said. "They
should always read. It helps your education, and it's fun."
Several Traina parents will read to classrooms on Wednesday.
Students will draw literacy-themed posters in what teachers call a cut-throat
competition Friday for a chance to win a classroom pizza party.
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