Most students and plenty of staff members came to school in their pajamas on Friday but, for this day at Dent Elementary, that was just fine.

The focus was not on taking tests or studying for spelling ... the focus was on reading, pure and simple, as the school observed the national Read Across America Day to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel - more commonly known as Dr. Seuss.

Guest readers by the dozens came on to the campus to share a favorite book or two, with each classroom visited by a special reader. Many were parents of students but there were also plenty of volunteers from local community service groups, Escalon High School and the local police and fire departments.

Among one of the first time readers was Elissa Skaggs, an Escalon High freshman who got involved through her membership in the Key Club.

"I just picked out a book I thought would be fun to read," she said of sharing a book with the third grade class of Brenda Fisher. "They were a good audience. I like their reaction; they're always so excited."

Skaggs said she enjoys being involved with Key Club because of all the community service activities the club does, including the Read Across America project.

Escalon Police Department reserve officer Scott Bynum was carrying around the Dr. Seuss book 'Fox in Socks' and reading it to several classrooms, but the tongue-twisting tale never seemed to get any easier to read.

"The 'tweedle beetles' are coming up," Bynum warned himself and a group of first graders enjoying listening to him read about fox. "Big breath."