Read Across America: Seussationaly Strong for 18 years

On March 2nd, Read Across America held its year-round program focusing on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources. March 2nd not only celebrated literacy awareness but also falls on Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Dr. Seuss, the beloved children’s author, captivated a generation with imagination and creativity.

The program started in May 1997, where a small reading task force from the National Education America (NEA) came up with an idea to celebrate a day of reading featuring pep rallies for kids to get them excited about reading. From there, Read Across America was born and soon became a memorable tradition for parents, students, and teachers promoting literacy awareness to schools 365 days of the year to celebrate throughout the month of March. This year’s theme was based on Seuss’s’ popular story “Oh The Places You Will Go.”

Gloria Barone Rosanio, co-owner of Payton Press and Rowan University’s Public Relations Student Society of America’s (PRSSA) Professional Advisor, is no stranger to Read Across America. Rosanio started Payton Press two years ago to promote Read Across America and literacy awareness overall.

In addition to her work in PRSSA and Payton Press, she donates her time giving books to public libraries and nonprofit organizations, such as Boys & Girls Club and Big Brother & Big Sisters. She always had a passion for reading and writing that will inspire children to open their minds with creativity and imagination. “If you can’t read, you can’t be successful in life and suffer from lack of confidence,” said Rosanio about literacy.

Many schools face challenges promoting Read Across America in their school districts. Ms. Rosanio gives schools tips on promoting the event: people finding out what the libraries are doing, check with local organizations, for media coverage, start with the community and local news station and networking is the main key.

Read Across America is year-long program in its eighteenth year that gives students an opportunity to learn about the importance of reading and how reading opens doors and expands horizons. We not only celebrate Read Across America during the whole month of March but throughout the whole year.

More About Payton Press:

Payton Press provides book services by consulting with authors, proofreading authors’ work, designing book covers, and creating custom book illustrations for readers of all ages. Payton Press also prints book for authors who choose to self-publish their work and sells those books through Amazon.com. Payton Press also offers writing and illustration workshops for children and the young-at-heart. Books published include: Flip Flip Flo, the Know-It-All, Thomas, Berkley and the Missing Socks, and Pedro’s Hungry Ride. Additionally, PaytonPress arranges book parties where children write and design their own books. For more information, please visit http://paytonpress.net.