By Julie Slama | [email protected]

Elected officials, police and firefighters, University of Utah women soccer players, about 15 Brighton high school student leaders and other community members came to support the 6th annual Dr. Seuss Day at Bella Vista, rotating every 15 minutes for 90 minutes to read rhyming tales to schoolchildren. Fourth-grade students smiled when Mayor Mike Peterson held up a picture of a Dr. Seuss character in “If I Ran the Zoo” with wild blue hair and he said, “If I had hair, that’s what I’d look like.” Fifth-graders laughed with DARE police officer Jeffrey Potter as he stumbled through tongue-twisters in “Fox in Socks.” Canyons Board of Education Vice President Amber Shill read one of her favorites, “Great Day for Up,” to inspire students to read more. “Reading is an important basic skill to have to be successful in life,” she said. Bella Vista Librarian Tamara Coombs, who coordinated the event, said not only do students benefit from listening to stories, but it also gives them a chance to see how reading is involved in community members’ work. “We wanted students to learn how reading helps them in their work so they can learn how it is important post-elementary school,” Coombs said. Principal Cory Anderson said the event kicks off preparation for their storytelling festival, slated March 19. Pictured are fourth-graders with Mayor Mike Peterson and City Councilwoman Tali Bruce. (Julie Slama/City Journals)