Pages were turning in classrooms all across the Dent Elementary School campus on Friday, guest readers came in to share their favorite stories, children were busy taking ‘accelerated reader’ tests on the books they read to gauge their comprehension skills.

All in the name of fun.

Read Across America Day was celebrated at Dent on Friday, March 6 and reading was in the forefront, as a way to honor the legacy of famed children’s author Dr. Seuss, also known as Theodor Seuss Geisel. His books focus on repetitive words, silly stories and fun phrases to get kids into the habit of picking up a book for enjoyment, not just learning.

Many students took advantage of the opportunity to wear pajamas to school and brought along a favorite pillow or blanket, with books the main item on every classroom agenda for the day.

“We have already had five readers,” second grade teacher Susan Judson said at mid-morning Friday. “We have one scheduled in the afternoon, we have piles and piles of books, the kids are settled in their reading nests.”

School attendance secretary Theresa Langum was enjoying the day as well, wearing Dr. Seuss-themed pajamas and sharing some stories. Denty the Dragon (school mascot) was on hand and guest readers included high school students, community leaders, Escalon’s police chief, service club members and more.

“It’s always fun to watch them, I love to see the expressions on their faces as you read the book to them,” guest reader Duane Lovett said.

He was reading a book he planned to donate to the class afterward and was there as a representative of both the Escalon Sunrise Rotary Club and Bank of the West.

Some youngsters shared their thoughts on the day, admitting that it was a fun way to spend a Friday at school, while 8-year-old Gentrie McLaury said her favorite Dr. Seuss book is “I Can Read With My Eyes Closed” and classmate Daniel Gonzalez, 7, admitted to liking the popular “Green Eggs and Ham” story.