The Celebration

On March 2, 2020, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation (Foundation) celebrated Dr. Seuss’s 116th birthday with a read aloud event and reading rally at Memorial Elementary School. The birthday party kicked off National Read Aloud Month.

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The Story

Over 40 members of the Foundation’s Ladies for Literacy Guild, along with members of the Houston Rockets Women’s Organization, joined in the fun. Dressed in Dr. Seuss-themed attire, the enthusiastic storytellers read to over 300 delighted students from Pre-Kindergarten to fifth grade in their classrooms.

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The Moments

After story time, children participated in a Reading Rally in the school’s cafetorium. Adding excitement to the rally were the Lamar High School Jazz Ensemble and the Curiosity Cruiser mascots, Owlbotron and Northtale. Before returning to their classrooms, each student was given the opportunity to select a Dr. Seuss book from the Curiosity Cruiser, a state-of-the-art mobile library, to read and add to their home library.

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Guests: Dr. Julie Baker Finck, Leah Stasney, Mehrnaz Gill, Rosie Damgaard, Ginger Blanton, Trish Morille, Dr. Maria Garcia, Laurel D’Antoni, Tracy Tucker, and Donatella Benckenstein.

 

In Addition

To celebrate National Read Aloud Month, the Foundation’s Ladies for Literacy Guild, the Houston Rockets Women’s Organization, and Reliant, in partnership with the Houston Public Library and Harris County Public Library, are hosting the Fourth Annual Community Book Drive, which will take place through the entire month of March. The goal is to collect 30,000 new and like-new books for children and youth ages four to 13. The books will be distributed to families in need through the Curiosity Cruiser and dozens of the Foundation’s literacy partner organizations throughout Houston.

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About the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation

The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation is a charitable organization formed by Neil and Maria Bush to carry forth First Lady Barbara Bush’s legacy in the literacy cause and to focus deeply on breaking the intergenerational cycle of low literacy in the Bush family’s hometown. Founded on Mrs. Bush’s belief, “If you help a person to read, then their opportunities in life will be endless,” the Barbara Bush Foundation’s mission is to improve lives through the power of literacy: the ability to read, write, speak clearly, and think critically.

For more information, please visit www.bushhoustonliteracy.org or follow on Facebook at

@bushhoustonlit on Twitter @bushhoustonlit and on Instagram @bushhoustonlit

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About the Ladies for Literacy Guild

The Ladies for Literacy Guild is a volunteer auxiliary group that supports the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. Led by President Trish Morille, this dynamic assemblage of women is committed to carrying forth Barbara Bush’s legacy in literacy. It also supports the foundation’s mission to improve lives through the power of literacy: the ability to read, write, speak clearly, and think critically.

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To learn more about the Ladies for Literacy Guild, please visit www.bushhoustonliteracy.org/ladies-for-literacy/