Ludlow High School students from Student Council will be visiting East Street and Chapin Street schools to read to elementary students for the national 16th annual Read Across America program.

Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child to celebrate reading on or near March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together children and help them to discover the joys of reading.

When selected students from Student Council go to the elementary schools, senior Jake LaPierre will be dressing up in the Cat in the Hat costume while 35 other students go around the the classrooms and read Dr.Seuss’s stories.

“I want to do it because I love reading to the little children. They raise their hands to talk about their day and it’s just so cute,” says senior Steph McVeigh.

Read Across America also provides parents, caregivers, and children the resources and activities they need to keep reading on the calendar 365 days a year, to motivate children to read and generate new enthusiasm for reading.

“I do it because I want to give back to the community,” Senior Meghan Lapointe comments, “I got read to when I was younger so I wanted to give the little kids the same opportunity.”