U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today issued the following statement on the 100th anniversary of the birth of Theodor "Ted" Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss, one of America's most popular children's authors.

"Dr. Seuss encouraged children to discover the joy of reading by making his stories fun and whimsical. He considered the ability of young readers in choosing the words he used in his stories, and he relied on phonics to help children learn to read. Adults who grew up learning to read with Dr. Seuss are still reading his stories—as parents to their own children today.

"Dr. Seuss' books help millions of children learn to read at an early age. Reading is critical to success in today's society, and research tells us that reading well in the early years is especially critical. The key to helping all children learn is to support teachers by giving them the tools that ensure success. And that's what President Bush's Reading First program under No Child Left Behind is all about: helping states and schools establish high-quality, scientifically based reading instruction for children in kindergarten through third grade.

"I applaud teachers for celebrating Read Across America and motivating children to read. I encourage all parents to introduce their children to the exciting world of books by reading stories to their children every day, like the many wonderful works of Dr. Seuss."

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