CONTACT: Staci Maiers   (202) 822-7823

June 29, 2006

Kids Say, 'What Did I Do On My Summer Vacation?' Read!

NEA Read-In: Hot Fun in the Summer Sun

ORLANDO—With summer in full swing, more than 300 local elementary students today went on a literary adventure as they joined the National Education Association for a daylong read-in.  From "Horton Hears a Who!" to "If I Ran the Zoo," Dr. Seuss was truly on the loose! 

NEA President Reg Weaver kicked off the event, which is designed to encourage kids to read throughout those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer—and showed that a day of reading can be just as much fun as an afternoon at the beach, a summer picnic or a day at the ballpark.   

"Like the excitement of a Fourth of July fireworks display, a good book can light up the minds—and imagination—of youngsters," said Weaver.  "Just because school is out doesn't mean it's time to take a vacation from reading.  From the first day of summer to Labor Day, reading should still be a part of every student’s summer fun."

Thanks to a generous donation from NEA's Books Across America, each student received the gift of a book and other fun goodies at the event to be encouraged to keep reading all summer long.  The young readers also met retired NFL players John Kompara and Robert Harris, Screen Actors Guild BookPALs LeRoy Mitchell and Mary Thompson Hunt, Disney author/illustrator Matt Whitlock, and children's author/illustrator Joel Gresham.  Kids were even paid a special visit from the Cat in the Hat.  This year's read-in featured bilingual readings as part of "Lea con La NEA," an outreach effort to Latino community.

Sponsored by the 2.8 million member NEA, the read-in also set the stage for the Association's 144th Annual Meeting, which is happening at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., June 30–July 5 and draws more than 9,000 delegates to the host city.

More than 45 million readers gather each year at exciting literacy events sponsored by NEA's Read Across America, now in its ninth year.  Past celebrity participants, including Morgan Freeman, Garth Brooks, James Earl Jones, Amanda Bynes and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child, have helped kids discover the joys of reading through the program.

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 2.8 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.