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Bluegrass Children’s Academy welcomed two guest readers to celebrate National Read Across America Day on Tuesday.

Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner read the children “I Went Walking” by Sue Williams and “Bear Feels Sick” by Karma Wilson. Kristin Clouse, a candidate for 25th District Court Judge, read “The Wonky Donkey” by Craig Smith.

Both agreed that reading and reading aloud is something that every child needs to experience.

“I think that, honestly, one of the skills, when I was growing up in the schools that I attended that was emphasized, was to read aloud and speak aloud in front of groups of people,” Burtner said.

The mayor said that it is a shame that society has moved away from encouraging regular reading aloud.

“I think it is an opportunity for a young person to develop self-confidence. I think it is a skill that stays with them for the rest of their lives,” Burtner said.

Clouse added, “Reading is a basic life skill. It will help you in anything that you choose to do. Reading to kids is so important because it expands their minds.”

It is something she practices with her son.

“I have a 5-year-old, and we read most nights unless he is too sleepy to hear a story. It really expands his knowledge and expands his interests in the world,” Clouse said.

Burtner said he couldn’t recall his favorite book as a young person, but he enjoys reading “The Tailypo: A Ghost Story” by Joanna and Paul Galdone aloud, though it is a smidge scary for children in the daycare’s age range.

Clouse said she has fond memories of reading “The Berenstain Bears” books by Stan and Jan Berenstain from when she was growing up.
Read Across America Day is celebrated every March 2, the birthday of famed children’s author Dr. Seuss, to foster a lifetime love of reading.