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Missouri’s First Lady Georganne Nixon helped celebrate the 105th birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss by reading his “And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street” to a third-grade class at Johnson-Wabash Elementary School in Ferguson.

Mrs. Nixon’s special visit to Johnson-Wabash was part of the school’s annual observance of national “Read Across America Day,” which highlights the joy and value of reading for children in all 50 states.

“As a mother and former teacher, I personally understand the importance of good reading skills as kids grow and develop,” Mrs. Nixon said. “I’m thrilled to be here today to share this special celebration with these students and to offer my support to this important academic program. By showing children at a young age that reading is exciting and rewarding, we can help them develop into life-long readers and learners who are ready to excel in school and on the job.”

Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, was born March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Mass. Over his long career, Geisel authored and illustrated 44 children’s books, earning the Pulitzer Prize in 1984 and three Academy Awards. Geisel died Sept. 24, 1991.

First celebrated in 1998, “Read Across America Day” is a national reading awareness and motivation program sponsored annually by the National Education Association. The NEA estimates that almost 45 million children and adults celebrated the importance of reading during “Read Across America” events that coincided with Dr. Seuss’ birthday last year.

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