Schools across the Westside marked Read Across America Week with activities aimed at sparking imagination and encouraging a lifelong love of reading, with students and staff in Gustine and Newman taking part in themed events, guest readings and creative projects.
The annual celebration, traditionally held around the birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss, brings classrooms, families and community members together to highlight the importance of literacy. At Gustine Elementary School, students spent the week participating in special reading activities and welcoming guest readers into their classrooms.
Teacher Tracy Bedford said the week helps students discover the joy and possibilities found in books. “I love to read and Read Across America is all about the love of books and the places a book can take you,” Bedford said. “Read Across America is a time for students to realize the many instances that reading is important in our lives. Thanks to guest readers who visit our classrooms, students have the opportunity to hear members of our school and community talk about their love of books and experiences with reading.”
Students read with classmates, created art inspired by favorite stories and made the iconic red-and-white striped Cat in the Hat hats. Bedford said one moment stands above the rest. “By far, the highlight for the students is the free book pick,” she said. “To celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday, students get to choose a book that they will take home and add to their home library.”
In Newman, students at Hunt Elementary School embraced the week with creativity, friendly competition and plenty of reading. Teacher Kasey Guillen said the celebration helps students see reading as something enjoyable rather than a chore. “Hunt students look forward to Read Across America Week every year,” Guillen said. “It’s a week where we take time to celebrate the joy of reading. We don’t want our students to see reading as a task or a chore, but instead an activity they truly enjoy and want to participate in. We want to create lifelong readers; that is our goal.”
The school hosted themed dress-up days, including Book Character Day, Superhero and Comic Book Day, and Cozy Up With a Good Book Pajama Day. Students also took part in daily book trivia challenges over the school intercom.
Another favorite activity was the illustration challenge, where each class selected a book and students created artwork inspired by its characters. The finished pieces were displayed in the cafeteria, turning it into a colorful gallery. Students also designed custom bookmarks for a schoolwide contest, with the winning design set to be printed and distributed during future library visits.
Hunt Elementary held a “Drop Everything and Read” challenge, encouraging students to pause their routines and spend time with a book. Families joined in through a community book swap, where gently used books were exchanged for new reading adventures. “All students who win the various challenges win books or book-related prizes because reading is a reward,” Guillen said.
At Von Renner Elementary School in Newman, Principal Danny Cope said the week is an opportunity to bring the community into classrooms. “We at Von Renner anticipate our guest readers,” Cope said. “Some of our readers are familiar faces, family members, and community service leaders. We extend our appreciation to our guest readers for giving their time and the local Rotary Chapter for their donation of books to the Von Renner Library. Each year, this continued support inspires reading and literacy across our campus.”
Students celebrated with themed dress-up days inspired by Dr. Seuss stories, showing off colorful outfits, silly hats and eye-catching socks. “The students displayed smiling faces and exuberance as they participated in wearing their favorite hats and crazy socks which were the absolute best,” Cope said.
Across the Westside, the week served as a reminder that reading is more than a classroom skill — it is a doorway to imagination, creativity and opportunity. Through guest readers, creative challenges and the simple joy of opening a new book, students in Gustine and Newman spent the week discovering that some of the greatest adventures begin on the pages of a story.
