Palin encourages children to read

March 13, 2008 at 1:25PM AKST

Early this month was Dr. Seuss’s birthday, and the National Education Association’s Read Across America event is celebrating it by encouraging children to pick up some books and read.

Coinciding with the celebration, NEA-Alaska, the Alaska Library Association, the Alaska State Library and the Office of the Governor have published a poster and bookmark designed to encourage Alaska children to read.

The poster features Gov. Sarah Palin, who sits on a sled with book in hand, while several domestic dogs gather around, apparently listening to her read "The Great Serum Race." The award-winning book was written by Debbie S. Miller and illustrated by Jon Van Zyle. It tells the story of the heroic mushers and their dogs that raced medicine across Alaska to Nome in 1925 to prevent a diphtheria epidemic.

The posters will be distributed to school and community libraries throughout Alaska, while the bookmarks will be targeted for young readers.