There’s a reason Stephen Schluer enjoys reading aloud the book “Officer Buckle and Gloria” to local youngsters.

“It talks about safety tips,” he said Monday morning to second graders in Lora Richter’s classroom at Stella Brockman Elementary School.

As a police officer and school board member – Schluer serves his community as both the City of Manteca Chief of Police and in his role as the Manteca Unified school board president – he’s all about safety, especially in helping young people.

“Scream and run (in the opposite direction),” Schluer said, advising youngsters to get away from strangers as fast as possible while calling out attention in potentially dangerous situations.

His reason for attending the school site was for Read Across America Week.

Schluer brought along the children’s book about a safety officer and his police dog to help teach children.

‘Officer Buckle and Gloria’ is a 1995 book written and illustrated by Peggy Rathmann 

Based in the fictional town of Napville, police Officer Buckle, who frequently gives safety speeches to local schools (boring by nature, as students are quick to lose interest), is assigned to take his police dog Gloria to the school for a safety speech. The dog suddenly catches the interest of youngsters by acting out Officer Buckle’s safety tips via pantomime.

Because of that, the children know what exactly to do when an incident occurs in Napville.

Schluer also read to students in the other classrooms at Stella Brockman on this morning.

Read Across America is a weeklong celebration held in recognition of Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2, with schools throughout the district conducting activities and challenges to encourage reading.

Walter Woodward Elementary School, for example, will be doing a Pancakes and Pajama breakfast with former principal and current MUSD Deputy Superintendent Roger Goatcher today (Tuesday, March 4).

Brock Elliott Elementary School will feature a Book Character Parade, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.