NEA's Read Across America

2006 Fact Sheet

Originally created as a one-day event to celebrate the joy of reading, NEA's Read Across America, sponsored by the National Education Association, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P., and more than 50 national sponsors including the National Football League Players Association, has grown into the nation's largest reading celebration.

Read Across America culminates each year on March 2—the birthday of beloved children's author Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. The program provides children with motivation to read and delivers an important message: Kids who read—and are read to—do better in school and in life. Read Across America calls on every community to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday through reading motivation and awareness. The literacy program also provides NEA members, parents, caregivers, and children the resources and activities they need to keep reading on their calendar 365 days a year.

Last year, a new Spanish language program, "Lea con La NEA" ("Read with NEA") was launched to reach out to the Latino community.

In cities and towns across the nation, teachers, teenagers, librarians, politicians, celebrities, parents, grandparents, and others develop Read Across America activities to bring reading excitement to children of all ages. Governors, legislators, mayors, city councilmen and other elected officials recognize the role reading plays in their communities with proclamations and floor statements, while wearing the signature red and white stovepipe hats. Athletes and actors issue reading challenges to young readers. And teachers and principals seem to be more than happy to dye their hair blue, cook up a breakfast of green eggs and ham, or be duct-taped to a wall if it boosts their students' enthusiasm to read.

Celebrity Involvement

With more than 45 million readers participating every year, NEA's Read Across America has enlisted the support of hundreds of celebrities including Garth Brooks, Cal Ripken, Jr., Morgan Freeman, Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny Glover, Esai Morales, Ming-Na, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken from American Idol, First Lady Laura Bush, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, Tiki and Ronde Barber, Alex Rodriguez, Shaquille O'Neal, Pedro Martínez, Reba McEntire, Amanda Bynes, and many, many more.

Read Across America 2006

This year marks a very special Read Across America, as millions from coast-to-coast will team up for an extraordinary cause: to bring the gift of reading to children who have been affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Read Across America will launch “NEA’s Books Across America” with its inaugural season touring the Gulf Coast region to provide reading relief by replenishing the area's public school libraries.