Seuss on the Loose

SAG-AFTRA volunteers perform for the Seuss celebration.

BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools), a program of the SAG Foundation, celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday week across the Bay Area. SAG-AFTRA volunteers shared a love of books, Seuss and stage by reading in classrooms and at special events. Over 1,000 children at San Francisco’s Rooftop School, John Muir Elementary and Oakland’s Grass Valley Elementary giggled at the animated Seuss readings. 

Spencer Christian, ABC7-KGO broadcaster, lent his star power to Rooftop Elementary, where he shared a new favorite Oh Say Can You Say, What’s the Weather Today and The Cat and the Hat. His station covered the importance of children’s literacy with a story on the March 2 broadcast at 4 and 6 pm. Watch the video here. Christian loved the experience of reading to kids so much that he now volunteers at a San Francisco public school every two weeks.

The 2015 Seuss events for Read Across America marked the kickoff of the SAG Foundation’s and Rise Up Foundation’s national literacy initiative #ReadtoMe. The campaign encourages everyone to pick up a book and read to a child in his/her life. Research shows that reading aloud to children dramatically improves language, literacy and academic outcomes.

Join BookPALS in opening up the world that the written word and books can offer. Become a volunteer. Contact BookPALS Coordinator Stephanie Tang by email or at 510-717-3688 for more information.

This item was originally featured in the August 2015 local newsletter.