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Rev up your world with a good book!

KNEA celebrates Dr. Suess' birthday by racing into reading...

Race in to Reading! That's the message from racing author Jade Gurss and NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer. They joined the KNEA Reading Team to promote KNEA's Read Across America.

"Reading is where it's 'hat'" is part of the NEA's literacy project. Regardless of what hat you wear as an adult, teacher, cowboy, police officer, judge, construction worker or race car driver, pick up a book and read with a child.

"Reading is a big part of being a race car driver," Bowyer said. "You have to be able to read about new rules, rule changes, contracts, media stories and fan mail. There's more reading at times, than there is driving!"

"Reading is a basic part of everyday life," he added. "If you can't read, you'll miss out on many of the finer things in life. Reading is one of the most important, and most valuable tools one person can possess."

Bowyer read lots of books growing up. "I really enjoyed reading magazines about motorcycles and race cars." His favorite book as a kid was "Where the Red Fern Grows." His favorite children's book is "Go Dog Go!" and he is currently reading "Seabiscuit."

Gurss co-wrote the book, "Driver No. 8" about Dale Earnhardt, Jr's rookie season in the NASCAR Winston Cup. "It was fun to actually write the book, but it was interesting to send it off for someone else to edit and change it. It's like sending your child off to camp or something," he said. "The business of publishing is fascinating, and getting a book contract is usually the most difficult part of the equation."

Any advice for future authors? "Write about what you know and love. If you're passionate about your subject, the writing is not only easier, but better," Gurss said. He wrote the book with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. "Driver No. 8" ended up on the New York Times Best Sellers list for weeks. Gurss was also asked to write the life story of Darrell Waltrip, three-time NASCAR champ and current Fox-TV analyst.

"Reading is a way to learn about the world, especially for a youngster from Kansas like me who never traveled outside of North America until I was age 35," Gurss said. "Good reading inspires me in my work and in my personal life. Besides learning about things I am interested in or curious about, reading a good book or magazine is FUN."

Gurss said he read anything he could get his hands on when he was a kid. "I read every sports book in the library of my grade school, then junior high and high school." His favorite Dr. Seuss book is "Green Eggs and Ham." Otherwise, his favorite book as a kid was "Instant Replay: the Green Bay Diary of Jerry Kramer" or the autobiography of Andy Granatelli, "They Call Me Mr. 500." Right now he's enjoying the Bob Woodward books "Bush at War" and "Plan of Attack" as well as "The Politics of Truth" by Ambassador Joseph Wilson.

KNEA's Literacy Efforts

"Follow that reader!" said KNEA President Christy Levings. "Literacy is the passport to a quality education." Developing a love for reading through the "Read Across America" campaign is a critical element in KNEA's literacy efforts, she added.

NEA, the nation's largest organization of teachers and school staff, recognizes that good reading skills are the cornerstone to success. Research confirms that reading aloud to children is one important way to help them become successful readers, improve comprehension and develop a strong vocabulary.

"Teachers know the more children read outside of school for fun, the better they do in school," Levings said. Started in 1998 as a way to get kids excited about reading, NEA's Read Across America has become the nation's largest reading event. The year-round program culminates each year on or near Dr. Seuss' birthday (March 2).

A reading event occurs in literally every school district in the state every year on Dr. Seuss' birthday, March 2. Reading marathons, skits, plays, breakfasts of green eggs and ham are just a few kinds of events held in schools. Older students read to younger students and classes of kids go to read at malls, senior citizen centers or even the State Capitol. This year NASCAR and NHRA drivers are being invited to Kansas classrooms.

KNEA encourages everyone to "pick up a book and read with a child" throughout the year. Those helping KNEA to do that in the past include George Brett, Governor Bill Graves, for KU Coach Roy Williams, K-State Coach Bill Snyder, Olympic Gold Medallist Tara Knott, Nobel Laureate Jack Kilby (he invented the microchip) and astronaut Steve Hawley. In 2004 eight Kansas high school students, all state and national high school rodeo champions, helped KNEA promote reading.

Jade Gurss
You may not know the name "Jade Gurss," but you certainly know the results of his work. As publicity coordinator for Budweiser's NASCAR program, he's the man who gets Dale Earnhardt Jr. in front of the fans, whether that's a public appearance, a photo opportunity or an interview. A Topeka native who currently resides in Huntersville, N.C., Gurss wrote the book, "Driver No. 8" with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. about Earnhardt Jr's rookie season in the NASCAR Winston Cup.

He grew up around sprint car or super modified races since he was three-years old. He has a degree is in broadcasting, and early on, he got lucky and helped cover a few races back when ESPN and TNN had just discovered the sport. His first job in racing was as the assistant public relations manager at Heartland Park Topeka, a multipurpose road course / drag strip. He moved to the Charlotte area in the mid-90s to work for Tom Cotter's company. From there, it was on to Ilmor, the CART and Formula 1 race-engine-building arm of Mercedes-Benz. He handled the marketing and publicity at their Detroit-area Technology Center.

Clint Bowyer
The 24-year-old Bowyer has been involved in racing nearly all his life. The 2004 NASCAR Busch Series season marked Bowyer's 20th year in racing and he enters the racing season as a competitor for the Busch Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year title. He drives for racing great Richard Childress - car No. 21.

Bowyer cut his competitive teeth at age five on a dirt bike. He began racing motocross, following in his older brother's footsteps. Bowyer raced motocross for nine years, collecting more than 200 wins and numerous championships.

Bowyer began racing on four wheels in 1994, driving in the Pony Stock class at Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, KS Bowyer progressed through the division ranks at Thunderhill, clinching the 2000 Modified division championship. Bowyer competed Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, KS., in 2000 and finished second in the points standings. Between the two tracks, Bowyer earned 10 wins and 32 top-five finishes that year.

In 2001, Clint Bowyer won two NASCAR Weekly Racing Series championships and collected 18 wins and 28 top-five finishes. He again won double championships in 2002 and clinched the Dirt Modified championship at Lakeside Speedway and the asphalt Late Model title at I-70 Speedway in Odessa, Mo. Bowyer was also crowned the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Midwest Region champion. In just three years, Clint Bowyer earned six championships, 40 wins and 92 top-five finishes on both dirt and asphalt tracks.

In 2003, he began competing in the NASCAR International Truck and Engine Corp. Midwest Series and the ARCA REMAX Series, while continuing to race on dirt and asphalt tracks throughout the Midwest.

Turning Teens on to Reading
Looking for ways to make reading appealing? Searching for projects that show reading is cool? KNEA's Read Across America offers the following activities, contacts, and Web sites to help tailor your teen reading program. We also welcome your ideas and pledges.

Go to www.nea.org/readacross. If you're an NEA member, you can also sign up for an E-newsletter offering news and resources from Read Across America partners.

Read and Lead: By getting involved in the National Forensic League as well as local activities at school, teens can sharpen their reading, speaking, and leadership skills at the same time. Where else will you find dramatic readings, high-spirited debates and oratories, storytelling, mock courts, and poetry slams? Go to www.nflonline.org. You'll find resources, planning kits, chapter guides, and more.

Read and Serve: Literacy projects are a great way to fulfill community service requirements. Literacy projects can range from book drives and readings for local elementary schools to writing and illustration workshops for budding writers. Check out the Youth Leaders for Literacy grants at www.nea.org/readacross or go to www.ysa.org to search for additional grants and project ideas.

Read and Calculate: Reading doesn't have to be limited to your English classes because reading skills stretch across the curriculum. In poetry, for example, math can take center stage with Geometry by Rita Dove, Barbie Says Math is Hard by Kyoko Mori, or The Mathematician in Love by W.J.M. Rankin. You can also use the Sir Circumference book series by author Cindy Neuschwander or Fractals, Googles and other Mathematical Tales by Theoni Pappas.

Read and Review: Teen advisory groups (TAGs) are a great way to engage students in reading and book reviewing and enable teens to help other teens with their reading. TAG members often post book
reviews, design teen reading Web sites, and set up reading clubs and literacy cafes. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), offers a useful set of guidelines. Go to www.ala.org/yalsa/yalsa.htm.

Finally, if you're also looking for lesson plans, the International Reading Association, National Council of Teachers of English, and the Marco Polo Foundation, have created a terrific Web site - ReadWritethink.org - featuring lesson plans, standards, and Web resources. Go to www.readwritethink.org.

Looking for books?
The KNEA Reading Circle Catalog is chock full of suggested books for teens and kids of all ages. Another idea: The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), composed of young adult librarians from school and public libraries around the country, keeps its finger on the pulse of teen reading and gives teens a voice and a choice when it comes to reading.

YALSA has even established a Young Adult Galley group of teens around the country who read advance copies and send in their reviews. YALSA also coordinates Teen Read Week every fall. Go to www.ala.org/yalsa/yalsa.htm.

Check it Out!
Teen Top Ten
A Wizard Alone: Young Wizards Book 6 by Diane Duane
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares
Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
The True Meaning of Cleavage by Mariah Fredericks
Abhorsen by Garth Nix
The Book of Wizardry: The Apprentice's Guide to the Secrets of the Wizards' Guild by Cornelius Rumstuckle
Dead Girls Don't Write Letters by Gail Giles
True Confessions of a Heartless Girl by Martha Brooks

Voting was recently completed by the 2004 Teens' Top Ten. Check www.ala.org/yalsa for the 2004 Top Ten results and a reviewer's list of all nominated titles

Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers -- Top Ten
Boards: The Art and Design of the Skateboard, (MTV Overground), by Jacob Hoye
Foolish/Unfoolish: Reflections on Love, by Ashanti
Dead Girls Don't Write Letters, by Gail Giles
Skeleton Key: An Alex Rider Adventure, by Anthony Horowitz
The First Part Last, by Angela Johnson
Dropping in with Andy Mac: Life of a Pro Skateboarder, by Andy Macdonald
Only the Strong Survive: The Odyssey of Allen Iverson, by Larry Platt
Odd Jobs: Portraits of Unusual Occupations
Jesse James: The Man and His Machines, by Mike Seate
Inside Out, by Terry Trueman

Looking for more?
Don't forget the KNEA Reading Circle Catalog or www.teenreads.com and www.readingrants.com.

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