By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

Jemison Elementary School held a Dr. Seuss parade for its students on March 3 to wrap up Read Across America week.

About 900 students were outside the school dressed as characters from Dr. Seuss’ books and holding signs celebrating their favorites.

The drumline from Jemison High School came out to lead the students in a parade around the parking lot. The crowd formed on each side of the loop as one grade level at a time filed in to march to the beat. Students cheered for the other classes as they waited for their turn.

The parade was the conclusion of a week full of reading at JES, in which they focused on Dr. Seuss books and had different readers come in every day, according to assistant principal Meghan Owens.

Community members came to read Dr. Seuss and a variety of other books to the students. Many of the books were ones the students usually would not be reading in class.

Joseph Esther, a teacher at JES, has written his own series of books about a monster from outer space. He read one of his books to the students during Read Across America week.

Esther said a week celebrating reading is important to him and the students.

“It’s great! This week especially the kids have been having a great time with it,” Esther said. “Especially weeks like this when they can read different stuff … it helps get them going. They like Dr. Seuss. It’s always fun to read those because it’s kind of tricky.”