[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 43 (Friday, March 5, 2010)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 10161-10162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4881]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 43 / Friday, March 5, 2010 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 10161]]


                Proclamation 8480 of March 1, 2010

                
Read Across America Day, 2010

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                As the foundation that makes all other learning 
                possible, literacy is the key to unlocking every 
                child's full potential. From riding a bus to opening a 
                bank account, our everyday tasks and decisions require 
                comprehension of the written word. On Read Across 
                America Day, we reaffirm our commitment to investing in 
                our children and giving them an essential tool for 
                success in school and in life: the ability to read.

                Today marks the birthday of the late Theodor Seuss 
                Geisel, known to millions as Dr. Seuss. His imaginative 
                tales have helped generations of children learn to 
                read, and they hold a cherished place on bookshelves in 
                homes across America. Authors like Dr. Seuss, whose 
                stories introduce fantastical worlds and characters, 
                fold joy into reading and help spark the curiosity that 
                is central to learning.

                While government must ensure that all our children 
                receive a world-class education, parents and caregivers 
                play a crucial role in preparing them--especially 
                during early childhood. We can promote a positive 
                relationship with books and language through everyday 
                activities to make reading fun and interactive. When 
                reading to young children, I urge all parents and 
                caregivers to talk about what is happening in a story, 
                point out details that relate to real life, and 
                encourage them to ask about words they do not 
                understand. Making regular trips to the library, 
                playing word games, and simply keeping books around the 
                home can foster a love of reading that will last a 
                lifetime. We can also set a good example by turning off 
                the television and picking up a book to read with or 
                alongside our children.

                On Read Across America Day, my Administration is 
                partnering with the National Education Association to 
                encourage families across our Nation to make reading a 
                priority. Together, we can give our sons and daughters 
                the knowledge and skills they need to compete in the 
                global economy, and in doing so, secure a brighter 
                future for America.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim March 2, 2010, as 
                Read Across America Day. I call upon children, 
                families, educators, librarians, public officials, and 
                all the people of the United States to observe this day 
                with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

[[Page 10162]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                first day of March, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2010-4881
Filed 3-4-10; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-W0-P