Read Across America stops in the Mid-Del area on its way to breaking a world record.

National Education Association (NEA), Oklahoma Education Association (OEA), Renaissance Dental, and local service men and women met at Steed Elementary Friday, Feb 28. This was a part of an annual Cat-A-Van reading tour.

“Read Across America has been a project of NES for the past 25 years and reading is so important we say the reading is fundamental and this [event] puts that ‘fun’ back in fundamental. We think it’s going to be a ‘Seuss-tacular’ day,” OEA President Linda Hampton said.

Hampton believes that these, and similar events are especially vital at the elementary level with the recent implementation of the Reading Sufficiency Act in Oklahoma.

“We’re taking some of the fun out of reading by requiring third graders to pass a test before they can pass, so this is just our opportunity to say ‘Hey kids reading can be fun’,” Hampton said

Students at Steed Elementary received an official “Cat in the Hat” Hat and a copy of a Dr. Seuss book.

“When the children leave they’re going to get a little bag with a book in it and a toothbrush and toothpaste, bookmarks, posters, stickers and all kinds of goodies. Everyone will leave with a hardback copy of a Dr. Seuss book,” Dawn Jones OEA Social Media Organizing Specialist.

Students assembled wearing their red and white striped hats and were read a Dr. Suess’ mischievous rhyming story. Students were even visited by Thing 1 and Thing 2.

There was a final surprise give away, unknown to the school. The Cat-A-Van partners gave the school $500 to help promote reading.

The school will be using the money to purchase new library books.

The Cat-A-Van tour was meant to culminate Monday March 3, with a Guinness World Record Event.

“This annual festivity in conjunction with Dr. Seuss’ birthday, has been a statewide celebration with districts organizing local exciting events encouraging reading and learning. This year, we set our sights on a grander, more unified celebration to include 10 districts and more than 3,000 children in a first-ever, Guinness World Record setting attempt of the ‘Most People Wearing Cat in the Hat hats’ (multiple venues).” quote from OEA press release.

This event is spread over ten locations throughout Oklahoma; Mayo Demonstration Elementary, Northmoor Elementary, Vandever Elementary, Highland Park Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Heritage Park Elementary, Jefferson Early Childhood Center, Hilldale Elementary, Woodland Hills Elementary and Mid-Del’s own Highland Park Elementary. Local volunteers and Oklahoma celebrities such as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Rumble the Bison will make appearances at different locations on the record breaking day.

“Every local site will have a countdown 10, 9, 8 … and then we will all put our hats on at once and then wear them for the next fifteen minutes,” Jones said. “Different locals, whether it’s the mayor or city council, are going to be participating at these events.”

Inclimate weather on Monday forced the event back, but it is planned for Friday March 7

EastWord News will be at one of the above locations filming the statewide record breaking event.