Back to Home > News > Thursday, Mar 16, 2006 Nation email this print this '); '); } The N... Aberdeen: Reading event Monday...

The Northern State University chapter of the South Dakota Education Association will sponsor the annual "Read Across America" on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. on the center stage of Lakewood Mall.

Children from preschool through third grade are invited to participate in the celebration, with a free book awarded to the first 600 kids who register.

Children are invited to meet some of their favorite storybook characters and NSU celebrities while listening to popular children's books. There will be balloons, activities, bookmarks, prizes and booths set up around center stage for each child to visit.

The National Education Association founded "Read Across America" in 1997 in an effort to get kids excited about reading. The program has now grown into a nationwide initiative that promotes reading every day of the year.

"SDEA sponsors "Read Across America" because it brings a spotlight to the importance of reading and literacy activities for children. Our activities are designed to encourage children to enjoy reading," said Ruth Huovinen, assistant professor of education at NSU, in a press release. "One of the things we do is to provide a free book for each child. Through this gift, we hope children will see reading as a doorway to any place they want to go."

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