Read Across America Travels Through Hills, IA

March 9, 2010

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HILLS, IA – Members of the University of Iowa volleyball team traveled back in time to read some of their favorite childhood books with students at Hills Elementary last week. The Hawkeyes, eager to help celebrate Read Across America, were only part of the week-long festivities that featured themes from the late great Dr. Seuss.

“We were brainstorming ideas to bring in special guests to get the kids excited about the week,” said Hills Elementary Librarian Jenalee Vittetoe. “Trista (Clark) suggested we ask the Iowa volleyball players and the children were thrilled. Hawkeye athletes are like celebrities around here. The kids hear `Hawkeyes’ and they get excited.”

Read Across America Day is celebrated annually on March 2, the birthday of the beloved Dr. Seuss. Though the Iowa City School District did not have classes Tuesday, March 2, the staff at Hills Elementary turned the event into a week-long celebration.

On Monday, kids were encouraged to honor The Cat in the Hat by wearing a silly hat to school. On Wednesday, the Hawkeyes were surrounded by Elmo slippers and bunny ears while the school remembered Fox in Sox by wearing slippers to class. Thursday celebrated Oh the Places You’ll Go with kids dressed as their favorite book characters. The school was alive in crazy colors on Friday as kids and staff recognized My Many Colored Days.

Iowa players Mara Hilgenberg, Aimee Huffman and Signe Mueller were able to dive into their childhood classics, including Mara’s personal favorite, The Giving Tree, but the Hawkeyes missed out on Monday’s lunch special… green eggs and ham, of course.