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Diverse books focus of next week’s Read Across America
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Steve Moretto, coordinator of compensatory education with the Manteca Unified School District, reads Thank you, Mr. Falker, an autobiographical book by Patricia Barber Polacco, to third graders at Great Valley School in Weston Ranch for Read Across America. - photo by ROSE ALBANO RISSO

Read Across America Week at the Manteca Unified School District kicks off next week with a diverse lineup of children’s books.

Lathrop Elementary School, for starters, will be doing an outdoor read of Natasha Anastasia Tarpley’s “I Love My Hair” on Monday afternoon.

Launched in 1998 by the National Education Association, Read Across America was created as a way to encourage children to read. Once known as Dr. Seuss Day, NEA has since pivoted from that to focus on diverse children’s books.

At Lathrop Elementary, students are encouraged to wear their favorite hairstyles to mark the event.

MUSD purchased 20 new books titles for each elementary school site a year ago, with the focus being the celebration of “individuality, taking action, the beauty of perspective, the power of your voice, and influential Americas,” according to the district office’s Community Outreach.

This year’s festivities are aimed at cultivating love of reading, promoting individual success, and celebrating diversity.

On Wednesday, George McParland Elementary School and Annex will offer a pancake breakfast for kindergarten through second- grade students, who will get a chance to dress up in pajamas. District leaders and local police will be among those reading out aloud.

Friday, Brock Elliott, Lathrop Elementary, and August Knodt will do a book character and dress-up parades.

Students at Veritas Elementary School will get to wear their best space gear during the reading of “Over the Moon About Reading” on Wednesday, March 9.