Nebraska Quarterback Martinez Reads Dr. Seuss for Belmont Elementary Students

March 2 was National Read Across America Day, and to celebrate, second-graders at Belmont Elementary School in Lincoln listened to a Nebraska quarterback read Dr. Seuss.

On March 1, Husker quarterback Adrian Martinez visited a lively group of second-graders from Belmont Elementary School to read from the Dr. Seuss classic “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.”

Read Across America is an annual day to get kids around the country motivated about reading. It also coincides with the March 2 birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.

After the reading, Belmont students had the opportunity to ask Martinez questions, like who his favorite teammates are, why he started to play football and what his favorite books were as a kid.

Martinez, whose favorite childhood books included the Percy Jackson series and Goosebumps, said reading as a kid is essential no matter what you want to be when you grow up.

“I think it’s important to establish that habit as early as you can and try to show kids that it’s fun to read," Martinez said. "It can be fun and it can be an activity, and it’s something you can really find joy in. I’m hoping to spread that here, obviously, and hoping to create a couple more Husker fans in the process.”

Elementary schools across Nebraska and the country held events for the national reading day.