Philadelphia Reads coordinates local week-long observance of Read Across America

After you pick up your free pancakes today, pick up a book.

Tomorrow is Read Across America Day, the National Education Association’s celebration of the March 2 birthday of Dr. Seuss (nee Theodor Seuss Geisel), and a call for literacy across the US.

Locally, the nonprofit Philadelphia Reads is coordinating a week-long observance: hundreds of community members will be Dr. Seuss guest readers at schools across the city.

This morning at 9:30, Mayor Michael Nutter will take a stab at the story of Gertrude McFuzz from the book Yertle the Turtle at Blankenburg Elementary School. 

And, of course, he’ll be wearing a Dr. Seuss stovepipe hat while he does it.