PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, center front, who read “Alexander Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday,” poses with Harrington students dressed as their favorite characters.
BY JESSIE NOCELLA
LYNN — From state representatives to retired teachers and veterans, every volunteer read with a smile and were warmly received by the Harrington Elementary School.
The annual Read Day event on Friday featured children and teachers who dressed up as their favorite storybook characters. They included Batman, Dr. Seuss and Where’s Waldo, while guest readers shared traditional children’s stories.
Third-graders Andrew Melo and Jaylee Dep were among the hundreds of students who participated in the event.
“I liked having the readers come,” said Melo. “You can learn a lot of things about their life and what they do.”
Dep said each year is special to her in a different way and is a chance for kids to understand books they haven’t heard before. “When they read, I feel like they appreciate doing it,” Dep said. “I like hearing stories because I like to read and write and that helps me think of writing new stories.”
School librarian Carole Shutzer, who started Read Day over a decade ago, has seen the benefits blossom. She invites guest speakers for the third through fifth grade to motivate and empower a love of reading and writing.
“I just wanted to excite the kids about reading and have a reading celebration,” she said. “Literacy is so important and I wanted it to be fun, so dressing up as a literary character seemed like such a good way to do it.”
Shutzer said her advocacy for children’s education supports reading comprehension.
“I want the kids to know that people care about them and that there are lots of people out there rooting for their success,” she said.
State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg read what appeared to be one of the children’s favorite books, “Alexander Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday.”
Students sat cross-legged in the auditorium listening closely as she shared advice on why they should start saving at a young age.
“It’s about trying to put a penny, or a nickel or even a quarter to one side and save it for when you’re older and to think about possibly going to college,” Goldberg said.
Tish Mukula, a Lynn nurse who moved from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, told students her story about the suffering, poverty and illiteracy in her country.
Principal Debra Ruggiero said reading is the core of everything at Harrington. The school has multiple reading programs and events during the year.
“I always look forward to this day,” she said. “I think the teachers get into it, the kids get into it, everyone dresses up and it’s a lot of fun.”