A class of kindergartners filed into the library at Cardinal Elementary School on March 3, bouncing and buzzing with excitement before they took their seats on the rug for a story. It was Read Across America Day, and they had some special guests to help them celebrate, including NEA President Becky Pringle, Vice President Princess Moss, and Secretary-Treasurer Noel Candelaria. Virginia Education Association (VEA) President Carol Bauer and Arlington Education Association President June Prakash were also there for the celebration.
To help the students settle in for story time, Moss led them in some “brain and body” warmups. They stood in their toes and reached their arms into the sky, “like you’re
reaching for a book on a high shelf,” Moss said. Then they sat back down and stretched their arms wide, “like you’re opening a gigantic book.” They opened and closed the book a few times, made some funny faces, and then were ready to sit still and listen.
“Raise your hand if you like to read,” Pringle said, and little hands shot into the air.
“I know how to read,” said one proud student. “So do I,” shouted another. “I don’t know how yet,” admitted a third.
“Well, that’s why we’re here,” Pringle explained. “We’re here to learn!”
Pringle then began to read We Are Definitely Human, a picture book by X. Fang about a comical alien visit to earth with lessons on kindness and humanity.
When she asked how the students show kindness, there were lots of enthusiastic responses, like giving hugs, saying kind words, giving presents, and helping others.
The students then gathered around tables to make kindness bookmarks and left with their own copy of We Are Definitely Human.
“Read Across America is so important to show kids that everyone has an important story and experience that can be shared through books,” said Moss, who visited tables to help the students with their bookmarks. “I grew up in a small, rural Virginia town, the youngest in my family, and I remember curling up with a book on Saturdays and getting so wrapped up in a story that took me to places I could never imagine, but that I could dream about. Books helped me to dream about what was possible and what I could achieve.”
After the kindergartners, a first-grade class streamed into the library. Librarian Jill Miller helped them get settled for story time. Miller, a former high school history teacher, said her favorite part of teaching history was taking her classes to the library for projects. That inspired her to get her degree in library science so she could work full time to develop students' love of books and reading.
It’s clear the students love Miller as much as they do books. “I call it the Taylor Swift effect,” she jokes. “They see me in the hall and they shout ‘Miss Miller!’ I get waves and at least 20 hugs a day!”
NEA’s Candelaria was the first graders’ guest reader. His book was another funny title: Mistaco: A Tale of Tragedy y Tortillas by Eliza Kinkz. It's about a girl who's had a terrible day full of mistakes and finds that making “mistacos” could be a delicious solution.
When he finished the story, Candelaria asked what the students thought. “It was hilarious!” lots of students shouted.
“At first Izzy tries to hide her mistakes. But we all make mistakes,” he explained. “Let’s do what Izzy did and make a taco of our mistakes and then eat it up!”
With that, the kids gathered at the tables to draw their mistakes on pretend tacos. There were pictures of kids falling on ice, calling their teacher by the wrong name, sneaking candy into their bedroom, and spilling their drink on a board game.
“When I try to hide mistakes, it just makes more mistakes,” said one student, who decided to put cucumbers and pepperoni on her “mistaco.”
VEA president Carol Bauer, a former chair of NEA’s Read Across America Advisory Committee, helped the students think about ways to draw their mistakes.
“As educators, we love reading with a child and opening up new worlds,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to hear stories about different people and different situations, and to learn how to deal with challenges. That’s why NEA’s Read Across America is so important. It brings everyone together to read in our schools and support all our young learners.”
Kathleen Michael, the library’s Instructional Assistant and the NEA building representative for Cardinal, said Read Across America Day is a fun event that helps students recognize the importance of reading.
Together with Miller, Michael strives to make the library a place where students feel seen and supported.
“It’s a peaceful place and our librarian Jill Miller has worked hard to make each student feel like the library is their own space,” she explained. “They can come in every morning for twenty minutes to hang out, read, talk quietly, and get ready for the day. It’s like a coffee shop for kids. The library is their second home.”
With an estimated 45 million people participating nationwide, NEA’s Read Across America promotes literacy, encourages a love of reading, and honors the importance of books in our lives through year-round events, resources, and promotion of diverse titles. NEA is making available online resources for all to use and share not only during the first week of March, but throughout any time of the year in celebration of NEA’s Read Across America.
