Celebrities to read to Iowa kids

Elementary schoolers across Iowa will be encouraged to pick up a book and read today through the fourth annual “Read Across America” day. Pro football player and Iowa native Tim Dwight is among the celebrities preaching the joys of reading. At 9 a-m, Dwight will read to students at his old elementary school in Iowa City, where Sue Ruxton is school spokesperson. Ruxton works in the principal’s office at Mark Twain Elementary School, where the former Hawkeye –now a receiver for the Atlanta Falcons– learned his A-B-C’s. Today would have been the 97th birthday of author Theodore Geisel, who wrote the Dr. Seuss series. Ruxton says Dwight will read a selection of Dr. Seuss’ rhymes to all 250 students. Ruxton hopes the encouragement about reading from a sports figure like Dwight will carry a lot of weight with the children. Jolene Franken, president of the Iowa State Education Association, plans to dress in a “Cat in the Hat” costume today and visit schools in Exira, Audubon and Waukee.