Malls Celebrate Read Across America - Free Event

Celebrity Story Tellers Celebrate Read Across America at Area Malls

Kids Invited for Free Story Times 11am to 2pm, March 1^st
and 2^nd

The five area CBL Malls,
in partnership with local public libraries, are celebrating Read Across America with an impressive roster of local Celebrity Story Tellers - media personalities, educators, sports figures and others – eagerly volunteering to read stories to area children. The event kicks off at 10am at
West County Center with a proclamation and the “Reading Oath” on Friday, March 1. Celebrity Story Times will take place at all five CBL Malls from 11am to 2pm
on Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2. This reading initiative also includes a month-long donation drive for new children’s books to benefit local hospitals.

Read Across America
is an annual reading motivation and awareness program by the National Education Association which calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading
on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.  The first 25 children at each event who donate
a new children’s book at each of the mall events will receive a free Dr. Seuss “Cat in the Hat” hat.  Donations of new children’s books will be accepted at each mall through March 31, 2013.

“It’s a privilege to host a program for children that encourages reading, while also inviting the community to donate new children’s books which will go to area
hospital programs,” says Sean Phillips, regional marketing director of CBL Malls. “Reading is a fundamental skill for success in society. Our celebrity story tellers have the unique opportunity to interact with the future
generation in a way that makes reading fun and exciting! ”

While the list of story tellers grows daily, a sampling of the roster of readers includes  Virginia Kerr with KMOV;
Melanie Moon, Monica Adams, Andy Banker, George Sells and Shawndrea Thomas with KTVI; the Story Lady (Kathy Ferrara); Courtney Landrum and Paul Cook with Y98 –
Paul will read a children’s book he penned – Jen Wood with Suburban Journals, Kate Uptegrove with West Newsmagazine, Aisha Sultan with the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch, Suzanne Boyle and Wally Spiers of the Belleville News-Democrat; Dr. Todd Koehl, Superintendent of the O'Fallon CCSD #90 school district; Dr. Jeff Marion,
Superintendent of the St. Charles School District; and many more.  Kids will even be treated to special
appearances by costumed characters Clifford and Curious George, hands-on activities and more.  Reservations are
not necessary and groups of children are welcome to attend.  For a complete list of story tellers and free
activities, visit the website of the mall nearest you:

• Chesterfield
  Mall (www.Chesterfield-Mall.com) 636.532.4004
• MidRivers Mall (www.ShopMidRiversMall.com) 636.970.2610
• St.Claire Square (www.StClairSquare.com) 618.632.7567
• South County Center (www.ShopSouthCountyCenter.com) 314.892.8954
• West County Center (www.ShopWestCountyCenter.com) 314.288.2020

To encourage reading all month long, children up to age 12 can read their way to a free treats. Complimentary bookmarks will be available at the story telling events, customer service or select retailers, to help track
the number of books read.  Once a child reads four books, they can redeem the bookmark for free treats at participating mall eateries. See mall websites for details on character appearances, benefiting hospitals and
more.

About CBL St. Louis

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc owns and
manages Chesterfield Mall, Mid Rivers Mall, South County Center, St. Clair Square and West County Center.  The CBL Malls in St. Louis feature more than 300 great specialty shops including Missouri’s only American Girl Store at
Chesterfield Mall and are anchored by Macy’s, Dillard’s, Sears and Nordstrom. For more information, visit www.cblproperties.com/stlouis.