Read Across Iowa hosts “Egg”cellent celebration ...

Read Across Iowa launched March 1 and began a month-long celebration to bring the joys of reading to kids of all ages. Agriculturally-themed Read Across Iowa events were held in Allamakee County and across the state and featured books and materials about agriculture that appealed to all readers.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County went into classrooms in New Albin Elementary and read an egg-themed book. As depicted in the photos here, students learned some fun facts about chickens and had an egg and spoon relay race to get the egg from the nest to the egg carton.

“When you read with children, you are making an investment,” said Becky Rea, K-12 Program Coordinator. “Early reading and talking with children gives them a strong start and a life-long return.”

Read Across Iowa is organized as a collaborative effort between the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Iowa 4-H Youth Development. Some books and materials were provided by donations and grants from the Resource Enhancement and Protection Conservation Education Program (REAP CEP), Iowa Space Grant Consortium, Iowa State University College of Human Sciences, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H Youth Development and other partners of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation. To learn more, visit https://www.iowaagliteracy.org/Tools-Resources/Other/Read-Across-Iowa. Submitted photo.