Educators, doctors, police officers and others from the community came together Tuesday to share their love of reading at area schools.

During what is known as Read Across America Day — which is also the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss — adults in Freeborn County set out to motivate children to read and to emphasize how important the task is to daily life.

“It’s such a neat experience,” said Heidi Stoltenberg, a pediatrician at Albert Lea Medical Center who volunteered reading to students at Hawthorne Elementary. “Reading is so important. Any chance we can teach kids of the value of that.”

Stoltenberg read “The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson to groups of kindergartners at the school. She said the book is one of her niece’s favorites.

As the children ate a snack of animal crackers, they looked on eagerly at Stoltenberg as she turned the pages of the book.

When she was done reading, the children asked her questions, mostly about her job and what often comes along with that — shots.

Each class of students listened to three adult readers during the afternoon.

Hawthorne Principal Corrine Tims said more than 18 people from the community came in during the reading time on Tuesday. They ranged from police officers, firemen, former educators, doctors, police officers and even the district superintendent, to name a few.

Tims said she was excited to see all the readers.

“I’ve always loved reading,” she said. “Reading is a skill we need. It crosses all curriculums.”

She said as part of I Love to Read month —which is taking place at this same time — Hawthorne students are aiming to read for 150,000 minutes.

The minutes can be logged at home or school.

If they reach their goal, they get to vote on which of three specialist teachers gets a pie in the face on Friday.

Tims said part of the goal in the activities is to also help children to enjoy reading so they want to do it more.

The school also implemented a tiger roar over the intercom, so when teachers and students hear the roar, they stop what they’re doing and immediately open up a book to read.

“Reading is the basis for life,” said teacher Mary Jo Dorman.

Sponsored by the National Education Association, Read Across America Day celebrated its first day of reading on March 2, 1998. It is the largest celebration of reading the country has ever seen.

Research has shown that children who are motivated and spend more time reading do better in school, according to the NEA Web site.

Dorman said in the first part of the day, teachers implemented special lessons to celebrate Seuss’ birthday. Some made hats similar to in “The Cat in the Hat,” and others made green eggs and ham. The Albert Lea Thunder hockey team also came in for one class.

Dorman said her students watched a Powerpoint presentation about Dr. Seuss’ life before he became an author.

Theodor Seuss Geisel — commonly known as Dr. Seuss — was born March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Mass. For 60 years Seuss gave children a reason to read by writing exciting and fun stories. He died on Sept. 24, 1991, at the age of 87. Dr. Seuss wrote many books for kids, the most famous being “The Cat in the Hat” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

“Reading is a great gift,” said Albert Lea Community Education Director Chris Chalmers. “It’s fun to share. It’s something we do as a family every night.”

Chalmers said he talked with the students about how they can learn lessons from reading.

The story he read, “The Grateful Bull,” focused on how people can get along with others.

The students in all of the grades showed excitement for their visitors and eagerly asked questions after their books were finished.