From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — Kindergarten students at Paine Elementary received a free Dr. Seuss book along with their report cards in celebration of the author’s birthday, all thanks to the annual event put together by the Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club.
Photo courtesy of the Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club.
The move continued the rotary club’s annual celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. This year, however, the book distribution took on a different form as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of handing out the books, members mailed them to the students with the postage paid by the rotary club.
“The kids are always so excited to have their very own Dr. Seuss books,” Mary Jean Sanspree, whose idea birthed the annual event, said. “It is great to see the smiles on their faces as each one opens his or her book.”
The distribution of the books is part of an effort by the rotary club to spread the love of reading to younger readers. Members regularly hold reading sessions and give their time each Wednesday to read with the students.
“Rotary Readers” from the club were presented with the Excellence in Service Award at the Paws for a Cause Gala by the Trussville City Schools Foundation in 2018.
“We are always looking for readers,” Rotarian Fran Aldridge said. “The students at Paine love to have readers visit their classrooms.”
