It didn't take long for Sherry Talbott's kindergarten class at Grandview Elementary School to get into listening mode.

With Windsor-Severance Re-4 School District superintendent Karen Trusler at the controls as the designated reader of Dr. Seuss' “Horton Hatches The Egg” and “Bartholomew and the Oobleck,” the kids were ready to listen Tuesday afternoon.

Grandview, along with other schools in the district, marked the National Education Association-sponsored Read Across America week and Dr. Seuss' birthday by holding Community Read Day. Members of the community were invited into the schools to read to the students,

Trusler, a former teacher as well as principal at Grandview, loved being back in the classroom.

“This is the ultimate dessert for today,” Trusler said. “It is a wonderful treat to be able to come in and meet with kids and see how excited they are about reading and learning and to be involved directly in the little bit that I can with students.”

Trusler said Community Read Day is beneficial for students and members of the community.

“Community Read Day is a wonderful opportunity for kids to meet members of the community because their world is their classroom and their teacher, and to be able to hear from people who aren't in the school environment directly in the classroom is a mutual benefit for the reader and for the kids,” Trusler said.

Talbott said having someone such as Trusler come in and read to her students is always a plus.

“I think she's awesome. I just admire her as a teacher and person, and that's why I invited her,” Talbott said. “She's taught kindergarten for so many years. It's actually fun as a teacher to watch her relate to the kids.”

Talbott said it's special to have different people from the community come in the schools to read to the kids.

Kyla Zurn, 5, said she likes reading and enjoys Dr. Seuss.

“Books are fun to read and are really cool. He's really cool, too, because he writes the books,” said Kyla of Dr. Seuss, who passed away in 1991.

Lucas Paquet, 6, also thinks books are cool. He likes the ever-popular, “Green Eggs and Ham,” book by Dr. Seuss.

Nanette Hoelmer, the literacy specialist at Grandview, said community members were slotted to read in different classrooms throughout the day.

“I think they like coming into school and reading to the kids. I think it's really important because the kids get to see people who typically aren't in school, and reading is important,” Hoelmer said. “Dr. Seuss is a good one to develop those basic skills, and everyone loves Dr. Seuss.”