U.S. Air Force Col. Al Wimmer, 35th Fighter Wing vice commander, leads the Book Character parade at Cummings Elementary School on Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 28, 2012. During Wacky Wednesday students at Cummings Elementary School dressed up to portray book characters as part of the school's Read Across America program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kaleb Snay/Released)
Eric Lee, Cummings Elementary School third grade teacher, and spouse Ann Lee, read to children at Cummings Elementary School during Wacky Wednesday at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 28, 2012. Many servicemembers and civilians volunteered to read to students to promote Read Across America 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kaleb Snay/Released)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ian Manzy, 610th Air Control Flight weapons technician, reads to children at Cummings Elementary School during Wacky Wednesday at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 28, 2012. Wacky Wednesday is part of the school?s Read Across America 2012, which aims to promote reading to all ages. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kaleb Snay/Released)
3/30/2012 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- To promote Read Across America 2012 Servicemembers and civilians read books to children March 28, at Cummings Elementary School, Misawa Air Base, Japan.
Read Across America 2012 was created to promote reading and literacy, not just for kids, but for all age groups, said Janet Winstead, Cummings Elementary School teacher.
Cummings Elementary School students and teachers celebrated reading from March 26-30 in various ways, including dress-up days, arts and crafts and reading events, said Winstead.
"I love it; it's a bit of work to get it coordinated, but the kids get excited about reading and writing and having guests come to the school and share with them," said Winstead.
Each guest reader shared a book of their choice to a class.
"It was definitely worth my time; I'd like to do it again, I forgot how fun it was to read to kids," Staff Sgt. Adam Wilson, 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operations license section NCO in charge.
After the guests finished reading, Col. Al Wimmer, 35th Fighter Wing vice commander, led the Book Character Parade at Cummings Elementary School. Each student and teacher portrayed a book character of their choice and walked in a line through the halls of Cummings Elementary School.
"It's a break from the day-to-day school life but it promotes literacy in a different way," said Winstead.
