Millions join Read Across America celebration

Millions of young readers joined the celebration of the National Education Association's 11th annual Read Across America Day on March 3. Aimed at raising awareness about the importance of reading, the nation's largest reading event included special appearances by Dr. Seuss's famous feline, the Cat in the Hat, at thousands of Read Across America Day events from coast to coast—including a red carpet celebrity read-in, Cat-a-Van reading tours, spring training read-ins with professional baseball players, U.S. Senate resolutions, and community reading celebrations at Target stores nationwide.

In Compton, California, dozens of celebrities donned signature Seuss gear and read Dr. Seuss classics to more than 750 local public school students. The reading roster included Emmy Award-winning actress Jenna Fischer of "The Office," hotel heiress Nicky Hilton, Corey Feldman of "The Two Coreys," Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian of "Keeping Up With The Kardashians," and more.

To put the "across" into the special reading day, NEA revved up its engines again this year with three Cat-a-Van tours hitting the road to bring the gift of reading to thousands of schoolchildren. Covering more than 1,200 miles, the Cat-a-Van tours will visit 11 states. Lawmakers also lent their bipartisan support to NEA's literacy campaign and its reading cause. On Capitol Hill, Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) supported a resolution designating March 3 as "Read Across America Day.”

Visit the Read Across America website for additional information on Read Across America Day and the Cat-a-Van Reading Tour. Visit the following page to see photos.