MARCH 1, 2005

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Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land will visit with a class of fourth-grade students at Wealthy Elementary School at 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2 to share the joy of reading as part of the National Education Association's "Read Across America" campaign.

About 20 students in Suzanne Van Fossan's class will meet with Land, who was invited to the school by fourth-grader Alex Malone. Wealthy Elementary School is at 1961 Lake Drive, S.E., Grand Rapids.

"It's always a treat to meet with young people because you never know what they're going to ask," Land said. "Today's kids are bright, but even in our highly technological world, it is still extremely important to encourage them to read. I'm looking forward to chatting with these students and finding out what's on their minds."

Land will read "America is . . ." by Louise Borden, a beautifully written and illustrated story about what makes America special. Joining Land will be the famous Cat in the Hat, one of the most beloved Dr. Seuss characters.

"Read Across America" is a literacy campaign calling for children everywhere to be in the company of a book. Initially created as a one-day event to celebrate reading on Dr. Seuss' birthday, March 2, "Read Across America" has grown into a nationwide initiative that promotes reading every day.

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