Reading comes alive at Buck School

Richard Kerin, a.k.a. The Cat in the Hat, shared a tale with a kindergarten class at the William L. Buck School on March 6 for Read Across America Day.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Kindergartner Jesse Sherack decided which Dr. Seuss snack he wants to eat first.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Phys. ed. teacher Joseph Mangini got in on the action, reading to a first-grade class.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

• 
• 
• 

Reading is a way of life at the William L. Buck Elementary School, but on March 6, it was literally everywhere.

Students and staff celebrated Read Across America Day with a host of activities. The annual event, sponsored by the National Education Association, also coincided with the birthday of noted author Dr. Seuss, who would have turned 110 on March 2.

Every class was visited by a guest reader at some point during the day. Students didn’t know who would be visiting their class, or what book their guest would be reading, but Dr. Seuss tales were the popular pick.

The guest readers included special subject area teachers, the school nurse, and even the principal. Reading teacher Carol Cannonito, who read to a sixth-grade class, said the day was about promoting an activity that is seen as the gateway to education.

“It’s so nice to get the children excited about reading,” she said. “The whole world is open to you if you can sit down and enjoy a good book.”

Cannonito, who organized the event with her fellow reading teachers and the school librarian, said this is the fifth year the school has hosted Read Across America Day.

Perhaps the highlight of the day was a visit from the Cat in the Hat himself. Played by reading teacher Richard Kerin, the famed Dr. Seuss character went to each classroom to spread joy and excitement.

“I absolutely love sharing the love of Dr. Seuss,” he said, “the love of reading, the love of acting out a book, because it makes it real and fun for the kids.”

Kerin said with preparation for the state tests in full swing, it was good to give the students a day that could be enjoyable and educational. He expected that children would go home at the end of the day and tell their parents how much fun they had.

The morning began with the entire school, in unison, reciting the National Education Association’s “Reader’s Oath.” The children also had a variety of Dr. Seuss-related activities to do in the classrooms including making a birthday card, identifying characters from his popular books and coloring.

In Lynne Sollin’s kindergarten class, children enjoyed Dr. Seuss cupcakes and blue Jell-o with Swedish fish in honor of “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.”