Read and Win With YMCA's Month-Long Contest

As children across America pick up books on Friday  in celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, the Somerset Valley YMCA is launching an event to motivate its members and friends to keep right on reading throughout the month.

Beginning Thursday, and running through the end of the month, the YMCA is aiming to reach a goal of 1,000 books read by members and friends.

“We thought it would be a great idea to extend the national 'Read Across America' for a month to motivate and inspire families, children and adults to grab a book and read,” said Melissa Gandolfe, teacher at the Somerville YMCA’s full-day kindergarten program. “Reading is the foundation for all learning.”

In a week-long celebration of “Read Across America,” invited guests have been reading to kids in the Child Development Center at the Somerville YMCA, where full-time care is provided for children from infants through kindergarten.

Among the guest readers are Somerville Branch Executive Sarah Nathans and Somerset Valley YMCA CEO Paul Kieltyka, who read “If I Ran the Zoo,” by Dr. Seuss, as well as Bridgewater parent Christene Datuin.

Children also have been bringing in their favorite books to share, cooking up green eggs and hams and making “Cat in the Hat” stovepipe hats in celebration of the 15th year of the National Education Association’s “Read Across America.”

As the grand finale, on Friday, everyone at the Somerville YMCA is invited to join child care classes and staff in the gym at 10 a.m. for 15 minutes to read either their own book or one of the YMCA’s.

The non-profit Somerset Valley YMCA is among thousands of schools, libraries and community centers participating in this annual outreach to improve the nation’s literacy rates and foster a love of reading.

The YMCA’s March 1,000-book activity is open to everyone. Those who join in helping the YMCA reach its goal are asked to provide the title of the book and their own name.

The most voracious reader gets a gift certificate.

For more information about Read Across America, please visit nea.org/grants/886.htm.