YONKERS: Theodor Seuss Geisel, more commonly known as Dr. Seuss, was born on March 2nd, 1904. His legacy and commitment to youth literacy live on to this day and are celebrated annually in Yonkers around his birthday.
This year was no exception, when City Council President Liam McLaughlin, City Council Member Corazon Pineda, Westchester County Legislator Virginia Perez and Westchester County Legislator Bernice Spreckman attended the eighth annual Read Across America celebration at Yonkers School 23.
“It is important to me as a parent to celebrate the joy of reading with my son as often as I can,” McLaughlin said. “Like Dr. Seuss said, ‘Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.’ We as adults need to take the time to care and read aloud to our kids, it is proven to increase academic performance and can help give them a leg up.”
McLaughlin came armed with his personal copies of Green Eggs and Ham and Oh the Places You’ll Go! to read to the children on February 28th. “Dr. Seuss has inspired generations and his works will continue to unleash the power of our imaginations,” he said.
“My public education helped me get where I am today, with a strong foundation of reading skills,” Pineda said. “That foundation began with youth literacy programs like Read Across America. I want to promote those same values that were instilled in me and I am proud to support this program to help make the children of Yonkers the best readers they can be.”
Read Across America Day is sponsored by the National Education Association and promotes reading and adult involvement in the education of our children. Dignitaries from around Westchester came to read to the children, including District Attorney Janet Difiore, County Clerk Tim Idoni, and Legislators Spreckman and Perez.
“If there is one thing that we all have in common, it’s the love of reading and the wonderful places the stories take our imaginations to,” Perez said. “There are so many books that have spanned generations and have enlightened children from all walks of life. As a County Legislator representing Yonkers, I can’t think of a better way to spend my morning then reading with my littlest constituents.”
“I’m thrilled that my office is once again participating in this wonderful event – it is so important to instill a love of reading in our young people and by celebrating Dr. Seuss, who my kids loved reading when they were younger and now my little grandchildren enjoy,” Spreckman said. “Reading together makes it a fun and exciting day for all those participating.”
The celebration continued this week when the Council President read to children once again during the Montessori School 31 Read Across America Day celebration and the fourth annual Paideia School 15 Read Aloud Day on Tuesday. Read Aloud Day also teaches the importance of reading aloud and sharing stories, and teaches children, teens and adults to celebrate the power of words.
McLaughlin added. “Dr. Seuss might have upped his ‘Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed’ guarantee for these kids to ninety-nine point nine percent if he could have seen the Yonkers treatment of Read Across America and Read Aloud Day.”
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