Local celebrities plug importance of reading

JEFF GRANIT staff Patrick Kennedy, ambassador to the United Nations, was one of several guest readers at Emma Havens Young School March 2.

BRICK — As long as children continue to emulate celebrities, the Emma Havens Young Elementary School PTA will make sure they pick up some of their good habits.

So at the school’s annual Celebrity Reading Day, which was held March 2 in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, the PTA invited local bigwigs such as Mayor Joseph Scarpelli, United Nations Ambassador Patrick Kennedy, and News 12 meteorologist James Gregorio to come to the school, read a story of their choice, and encourage students to read.

"We want to give the students someone positive to emulate," said Vicky Leone, reading coordinator for the PTA. "We want to encourage children to read — not just in school, but out of school. Celebrity Day has gotten bigger and bigger each year. We used to just have people from Brick come and read, but now we have people come from all over."

Councilmen Frederick Underwood and Anthony Matthews, local Elvis impersonator El King, and local disc jockeys Joe Stevens of Oldies 100.1 and Dan Alexander of 94.3 the Point were also on the roster of local celebrities.

JEFF GRANIT staff Students made and wore hats in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday last week at Emma Havens Young School.

Stevens, who was assigned to a class of first-graders, opted to read David McPhail’s "Edward and the Pirates," a children’s book that emphasizes the importance of reading.

"In the book, the pirates find a treasure map," Stevens said. "The pirates realize they can’t read, so they are unable to find the treasure."

Kennedy, who spoke to the fifth-grade class about his extensive world travels and his responsibilities in Iraq last year, read Susan Lowell’s "The Three Javelinas," a southwestern adaptation of "The Three Little Pigs."

Clad in a pair of blue suede shoes and a rhinestone-studded Elvis costume, El King performed a song and dance version of "Lilo and Stitch."

The sixth annual Read Across America Week was celebrated in schools nationwide from March 1 through March 5. The Emma Havens Young Elementary School also celebrated the event with a book-writing contest and a nighttime campsite reading.