Read Across America Day, 2010

Proclamation 8480 of March 1, 2010

Read Across America Day, 2010

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

As the foundation that makes all other learning
possible, literacy is the key to unlocking every
child's full potential. From riding a bus to opening a
bank account, our everyday tasks and decisions require
comprehension of the written word. On Read Across
America Day, we reaffirm our commitment to investing in
our children and giving them an essential tool for
success in school and in life: the ability to read.

Today marks the birthday of the late Theodor Seuss
Geisel, known to millions as Dr. Seuss. His imaginative
tales have helped generations of children learn to
read, and they hold a cherished place on bookshelves in
homes across America. Authors like Dr. Seuss, whose
stories introduce fantastical worlds and characters,
fold joy into reading and help spark the curiosity that
is central to learning.

While government must ensure that all our children
receive a world-class education, parents and caregivers
play a crucial role in preparing them--especially
during early childhood. We can promote a positive
relationship with books and language through everyday
activities to make reading fun and interactive. When
reading to young children, I urge all parents and
caregivers to talk about what is happening in a story,
point out details that relate to real life, and
encourage them to ask about words they do not
understand. Making regular trips to the library,
playing word games, and simply keeping books around the
home can foster a love of reading that will last a
lifetime. We can also set a good example by turning off
the television and picking up a book to read with or
alongside our children.

On Read Across America Day, my Administration is
partnering with the National Education Association to
encourage families across our Nation to make reading a
priority. Together, we can give our sons and daughters
the knowledge and skills they need to compete in the
global economy, and in doing so, secure a brighter
future for America.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim March 2, 2010, as
Read Across America Day. I call upon children,
families, educators, librarians, public officials, and
all the people of the United States to observe this day
with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of March, in the year of our Lord two
thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.