Happy Friday, RMT’ers! And Happy Read Across America week to many of you, too, whether you celebrated this week or last week! Our school chose to commemorate the occasion last week (Feb. 24-to-28) before Theodor Seuss Geisel’s (AKA Dr. Seuss’) birthday (which was March 2 and fell on a Sunday this year). I didn’t think this year’s events could be any more fun than we had last year, but I was more than happy to be proved wrong!

First, the school kicked off the week at Monday morning assembly. The co-chairs stepped up to the stage enthusiastically to promote and educate students and staff with fun Dr. Seuss facts, along with encouraging all of us – kids, parents, and staff – to read whenever and where ever possible. Yay for books!

And speaking of yay for books, our school also held a “Milk + Bookies” book-raiser donation drive in conjunction with the other on-campus reading events to benefit a local homeless shelter that literally told us that they had no books for the children. I can’t even imagine kids who haven’t a single book, so I can’t even begin to imagine the looks on their faces once they realize that they now are going to be knee-deep in books, books, books, and all thanks to our littlest givers. The drive encouraged the students to go through their existing libraries and part with one or two (or 10) gently used books that they no longer needed, so not only was it a charitable drive but a eco-friendly one as well.

The “Milk + Bookies” program also puts children giving to one another directly and locally at the forefront of their cause. That philosophy not only allows givers to make their donations feel more personalized by allowing them to inscribe a book-plate with their gift(s), but it also aims to connect kids on the receiving end with someone right at their age level in their own community. I love that an organization exists that helps children personalize giving. While we always strive to be a charitable, generous family, oftentimes that connection can be lost just by simply tossing some toys into a bin. Kudos to the Milk + Bookies folks for recognizing that kid donors have the ability to be treated just the same as their parental counterparts.

That reminds me… the theme of our Read Across America week this year was, “A Person’s a Person, No Matter How Small.” What a perfect choice all things considered. The kids were all asked by our very own “Cat in the Hat” what that theme meant to them. Answers like, “It means I have a voice, feelings,” and, “Just because I’m a kid doesn’t mean I’m not a person,” were said and heard over and over again. Thanks for the reminder, kids. Sometimes we parents can forget that kids, even our own, are people, too.

And onto the highlight of the week: Read Across America Day! Last Friday our school’s library was transformed into a Dr. Seuss-ville of epic proportions. Our co-chairs really did a fantastic job with the Dr. Seuss-themed decor and design, above and beyond really.

Throughout the day, each classroom had a turn in the library to sit and listen to a couple of stories read aloud by one of about 15 different parent volunteers. C even got in on the reading fun by getting up in front of the Transitional Kindergarten class! T’s class already had two of their own wonderful moms signed up to read to them already, but C felt it important that not only moms read to the kids but also that some dads and other guys get up there, too. I think he had as good of a time (if not better) as those TK students also.

First graders were extra-lucky enough to have the BARK program come and read to them. Founded in 2007 BARK, which stands for “Beach Area Reading with Kids,” is an active local organization based in Long Beach (CA) composed of an all-volunteer group that encourages children to increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. From their website: “Students find it intimidating to read in front of classmates, but love to read to the non-judgmental, calming dogs. BARK now has 170 teams listening to kids in more than 100 schools and libraries in California. BARK teams also visit nursing homes, senior living facilities, veterans’ centers, and even de-stress college students during finals week.”

Thanks again to our wonderful Read Across America co-chairs, our volunteers, school staff, and other sponsors for a fun and educational week filled with books, reading, generosity, and enrichment!

RMT’ers, how did you commemorate Read Across America 2014? We are always looking for new and exciting ideas to add to our own celebrations, be it at school or amongst friends! Special thanks to the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity and to Gelson’s Long Beach for their generous donations to help make our school’s event an A+ affair. And I can’t say it enough but thanks again to our two co-chairs for such a wonderful week, especially  my friend A who worked her butt off to make sure all the kids and us volunteers had a blast at every turn. Mwah!