Warriors read Dr. Seuss to kids

HA Note: "The second-graders' eyes widened as 6-foot-3 defensive lineman Rocky Savaiigaea strode into the classroom yesterday in his football jersey carrying a copy of Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in the Hat." Savaiigaea and five University of Hawai'i Warrior teammates helped Kamiloiki Elementary School participate in the National Education Association's Read Across America program, a reading initiative that encourages kids to read around Dr. Seuss' birth date, March 2. This is the first year Kamiloiki has participated in the national program, said PTSA President Beverly Ray. The goal is to encourage reading as a fun activity, not a chore, she said."

About Dr. Seuss books, PTSA President Ray said:
"Through his books, (Dr. Seuss) actually related to the children and they learned from him because of the rhymes. If you teach a child that reading is fun and that you learn things about the book that you're reading, hopefully they'll take that into adulthood." (HA)

HA Note: "Yesterday, Savaiigaea read "The Cat in the Hat" to Kamiloiki's second-graders, who sat on the classroom floor at his feet, listening eagerly. The football players also treated the students to a game at recess."

About reading to the kids, Savaiigaea said:
"I wasn't too sure of the reaction I was going to get ... when we started to read. But you know, to see the smiles on their faces and to see them laughing and really getting into a story like it's a TV show itself, it was well worth it." (HA)

HA Note: "The Warriors' Guyton Galdeira read "The Cat in the Hat" to preschoolers and third-graders yesterday, and his personal childhood favorite: "Green Eggs and Ham.""

About reading to the kids, Galdeira said:
"The message we were trying to send today is that reading is very important, no matter what you want to be, whether it's a football player, a teacher or a doctor. 'Green Eggs and Ham,' that one's a classic. Yeah, I was a fan." (HA)