Read Across America has long been an annual tradition at Manteca Unified.

The week-long of activities celebrating early literacy was launched in 1998 by the National Education Association, honoring the work of children’s author Theodor Geisel better known as Dr. Seuss.

Today, Read Across America has grown to feature a diverse lineup of children’s books.

MUSD held several reading events, including board President Marie Freitas – a former Golden West Elementary School teacher – returning to her school site to read to the younger students.

At Joseph Widmer, board members’ Marisella Guerrero and Kathy Howe also visited the classroom, reading aloud to Mrs. Gutierrez’s second-grade students and Ms. Dominguez’s second / third grade combo class, respectively.

French Camp Elementary School kindergarten teacher Sabrina Gates not only read “My Friend and I,” but also had students brainstorm ideas in creating their own stories coupled with drawings of the characters, according to MUSD Community Outreach.

Read Across America included California Highway Patrol officers in uniform as the special guests at Joshua Cowell, and dress-up parades at Brock Elliott and Lathrop Elementary on Friday.

MUSD Deputy Superintendent Roger Goatcher spent a day at his old school site – he’s the former principal at Woodward School – to read several books, including “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,” “Fox is Socks,” and “Wacky Wednesday.”

Jacalyn Davis, who is the district’s Coordinator of Equity & Access, visited Nile Garden School to read “Say Something!” by Peter Reynolds, to third-grade students.

“Students loved joining in, reading along with Mrs. Davis to discuss words like ‘invisible’ and ‘phenomenal,’ and how these words hold meaning,” said proudtobemusd via social media.

The various themed activities, according to MUSD, are designed to encourage young learners to see reading as something enjoyable, effectively assisting with the critical academic transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.”