Read Across America Day

Children in Champaign County are invited to join millions of their peers across the country in celebration of the area’s 14th annual National Education Association (NEA) Read Across America Day.

The theme of the local celebration this year is “Sink Your Teeth into a Good Book!”

The event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 1st at Lincoln Square in Urbana, featuring more than 30 hands-on literacy related activities. There will be more professional storytellers on the Main Stage this year, due to a generous grant from the Urbana Arts Council. The professional storytellers include Kate Kuper, Linda Dust, Alice McGinty, Patricia Hruby Powell, Aaron Carlin, Kim Sheahan, Sue Searing, Kathleen Brinkman, Dawn Blackman, and Elaine Beardon. Also on the Main Stage will be Mike O’Brien and the Clothespin Puppets and Oba William King who is from Chicago. There will be celebrity greeters, parent and toddler areas, and readings in many other languages.

The first 1,000 children will receive a free sports tote bag and a new book, paid for by participating sponsors. The annual event was originally conceived and spearheaded by NEA, and this is Champaign-Urbana’s 14th annual celebration. The goal of this event is for the entire community to celebrate the joy of reading.

For more information on Read Across America Day, contact Sheri Langendorf at cuatraa@gmail.com or the Urbana Business Association at 217.344.3872.

The local event is coordinated by Altrusa International of Champaign-Urbana, Champaign County Retired Teachers Association, Champaign Library, Child Care Resource Services, Community Elements, Parkland College, Urbana Adult Education, JuCanto Spanish Playgroup, the Urbana Free Library, Urbana Business Association, the Urbana Park District, and Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse.