State superintendent of public education Dr. June Atkinson visited Beaufort County last week to read to a group of first-grade students.

To celebrate with Read Across America Week and Dr. Suess’ birthday, Atkinson visited Eastern Elementary School and read “Where Do They Go?” by Michael Bilbro, local author and Beaufort County Schools’ board member, to four classes of first-graders. Atkinson was invited through first-grade teacher DeAnne Smith, who, along with Kindergarten teacher Mary Martin Moore, donned a “Cat in the Hat” costume in honor of Dr. Suess’ birthday.

Before the reading engagement, Atkinson met with BCS board members Carolyn Walker and Bilbro, Eastern Elementary Principal Melissa Dana and Bridget Bilbro, Eastern Elementary vice principal, and the wife of Michael Bilbro.

“This is in accordance with Read Across America Week,” Dana said. “DeAnne Smith invited Dr. Atkinson to come read to students. When we realized we could pick a book, we picked Michael’s book and he’s a board member and his wife is an educator, so it worked very well.”

Michael Bilbro said the book, published in 2009, follows a young boy who wonders where balloons go when they are released. The boy’s grandfather, who recently lost his wife, tells him a story of how the balloons travel around the universe. The book is, more or less, a metaphor for dying and the peace that can come with it. Bilbro thought the visit, as well as the reading event, was a positive thing, he said.

“Anytime a child reads of can be around words, in general, I think it’s a positive thing,” Bilbro said. “When you have a representative like Dr. Atkinson come in here and read to the kids, it reminds them of how special they are, and again, the importance of reading.”

“One of the most important things we can do as educators is help our children learn to read well,” Atkinson said. “So any time that I can draw the attention of the importance of Read Across America and the importance of parents, communities and schools paying attention to reading, I want to be there. So I was very happy to be invited to Eastern Elementary School today to participate in Read Across America.”

Also at the event, Dr. Suess-themed refreshments were served, including pretzels with frosting on them resembling green eggs and ham, to Atkinson, students, faculty and guests.