The reports that show the value of reading are endless. That would be because there’s quite possibly an endless list of positive impacts that come from reading.

Amid Read Across America Week, which is celebrated from March 2 to 6, the National Educational Association promotes the value of reading and aims to educate people about its benefits, particularly for youth.

Events are held around the nation. Butler County is no exception, as a number of schools and other groups have organized events to promote the cause.

For instance, Miss Butler County Samantha Roth stopped by First Baptist Christian School on Monday to read to the kindergarten through fifth-grade classes. Complete with her “Miss Butler County” sash and crown, Roth read “Caps for Sale” to the engaged and excited a group of students.

Mars Area Elementary School has a slate of events planned for the reading time. On Monday, the school had a “Read Your Shirt” Day where students were encouraged to wear a shirt with letters or words.

“Celebrate Read Across America” Day was recognized Tuesday with students wearing red, white and blue. The trend continued with clothing suggestions for Wednesday and Thursday, too.

Amid the numerous reports that exist on the benefits of reading is “The power of reading choice, time and pleasure,” published on scholastic.com.

Research found children who read for pleasure are likely to perform better in school than their peers who rarely read. Further, reading for pleasure was linked to increased cognitive progress over time.

Specifically, the report indicates children between the ages of 10 and 16 who read for pleasure were able to make further progress in vocabulary, spelling and math than those who rarely picked up books.

Read Across America was started by the National Education Association in 1998 to motivate people to read. Events have happened for decades to encourage reading.

The “Time Capsule” featured in the Wednesday edition of the Butler Eagle pictured Joe Wos, a cartoonist and storyteller from the former ToonSeum in Pittsburgh, telling a story to students at Mars Primary Center on March 6, 2009. The appearance was part of the school’s annual Read Across America celebration.

It’s nothing new, but what’s commendable is that these events are continuing. There’s still a need to share the message about reading and still a noticeable impact from the weeklong initiative.

— TL