Caption Only: Reading day at the Capitol

Ali Egbert and Bill Mines, above, from Bluffdale Elementary School enjoy listening to a story being read at Utah's Capitol as part of Read Across America Day. The event coincided with the birthday of Dr. Seuss, or Ted Geisel, author of children's books including "The Cat in the Hat" and other favorites. At left, Rep. Susan Koehn, R-Woods Cross, reads from a Dr. Seuss book. A number of local community members and lawmakers participated in reading to hundreds of Utah schoolchildren. The children took part in various other activities, from purchasing books for homeless children to reading a Dr. Seuss favorite. National activities included a family read and breakfast in Portland, Ore., and celebrity choral readings in Los Angeles. Baltimore Orioles third-baseman Cal Ripkin Jr. is national chairman of the event.