“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
— Dr. Seuss
Those who were read to when they were young and those who read to a child regularly know the truth of those words by Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. That knowledge is not universal, though. Far too many of the area’s pre-school youngsters and the adults in their lives don’t know about the magic of reading and the power of words to teach, entertain, inform and inspire.
That’s a tragedy in a world where reading is still the best way to gain the knowledge that is essential to a productive and fulfilling life. There is mounting evidence that preschool kids who are read to at home have higher rates of success in school. It is clear, too, that kids who read regularly, a natural outgrowth of being read to as youngsters, become stronger readers as they age.
Those facts underscore the value of reading to children. Doing so, though, is not always easy when single-parent families and families in which both parents work are the norm. Public programs that extol reading and the benefits that accrue from it can help fill the void.
One such event begins Tuesday and concludes Saturday. Tens of thousands of children and adults in the region will participate in “Read Across Chattanooga” — sponsored by the United Way of Greater Chattanooga and its community-minded partner organizations. There will be activities in many area schools, of course, but there will be public events, as well. The latter provide a wonderful opportunity for families and others to participate.
Public officials and community leaders will have prime roles in the celebrations. They will participate in readings from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday on the Center Stage at Hamilton Place Mall. That’s the location, too, for a gala Dr. Seuss birthday party Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. That’s a day late (Geisel was born March 2) but more people, are likely to attend a Saturday party than one on Friday.
Read Across Chattanooga rightly honors adults who read to kids, and those of any age who read regularly. It is also a reminder that it is never too late to start reading to a child or for one’s own benefit.