Saturday marks the annual date for Read Across America, an awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2 — the birthday of beloved children’s book author Dr. Seuss.
Here are some facts and figures about Dr. Seuss, the program and childhood literacy:
March 2, 1904
Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as children’s book author Dr. Seuss, was born in Springfield, Mass.
1998
National Education Association launches Read Across America. Among newly released books that year was “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” by J.K. Rowling.
83%
Percentage of U.S. children who say they love to be read to
48%
Percentage of young children in U.S. who are read to daily
65%
Percentage of U.S. fourth graders who do not read at a proficient level
13
Average number of books, per child, in U.S. middle-income homes
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
— Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
Sources: National Education Association, Children’s Literacy Foundation
