Children at The Christmas Box House received some special guests on a recent Friday: Darth Vader and two Storm Troopers.

The three Star Wars villains were in the classroom to read the students a Dr. Seuss story as part of the National Education Association's Dr. Seuss Read Across America campaign, which kicked off on Dr. Seuss' birthday, March 2. Throughout the next couple weeks other visitors including the Utah Jazz or Bees players, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, law enforcement and education officials and others will stop by the center to promote literacy by reading a Dr. Seuss story.

Sharon Hall of the Granite School District, who teaches the K-6 class at Christmas Box, said she started the program four years ago because of how popular Dr. Seuss is with her students.

"He rhymes, he has a CVC, or consonant vowel consonant, construction, it's easy for them to read, and they like the pictures," she said. "Dr. Seuss books are a different type of illustrations that aren't perfect, so the kids can draw them."

Hall says many of the guests she invites to help her students develop a relationship with them. Because many of the youths in the center are in Division of Child and Family Services custody, they have issues with policemen, judges and others who may have been the ones to remove them from their home and are now seen as the enemy. By inviting these individuals to interact with the youths, they can discover the officials aren't the "bad" people they think they are.

"Right now they see them as the bad guys because they took (the youths) away from their families, but when judges or police officers come in, they all of a sudden go 'these people like to read, we like to read,"' she said. "It helps them get excited about reading and feel security. ... It helps build a bridge between law enforcement and the kids."

The Star Wars characters originated from the Alpine Garrison, the local chapter of the Imperial 501st Legion. The 501st Legion is an international costuming club whose members make imperial costumes from the Star Wars universe to wear for charity work, community events, fan conventions and for Star Wars promotions. Children's charities, including the Christmas Box House, are a major focus, said spokeswoman Erin Hughes.

"This is our second time coming here," she said. "There's something special in bringing Star Wars magic to children in here for specific reasons. We can help take them out of their situation for awhile. Hopefully Dr. Seuss books can help with that. We're really grateful we're able to come and happy to be here."

---

E-mail: twalquist@desnews.com