NATCHEZ &045; The persuasions of Sam-I-Am may have been enough to convince the grumpy grown-up in Dr. Seuss’s famous book to eat green eggs and ham, but the task was a little harder at Frazier Primary School Tuesday morning.

&uot;Eww,&uot; was the first thing out of 5-year-old Faith Davis’s mouth when she saw her breakfast. &uot;I ate the ham,&uot; she said later.

The students were served green eggs and ham for breakfast to kick off a day of celebrations to honor Dr. Seuss’s 100th birthday, the Seussentennial.

The famous author’s birthday has coincided with Read Across America Day since 1998. The National Education Association annually sponsors the event and encourages schools to invite guest readers from the community.

Readers at Frazier included Police Chief Mike Mullins, Fallin Career and Technology Center Vocational Director Linda Grafton and various other friends and family associated with the school.

&uot;I came last year and enjoyed it so much,&uot; Grafton said. &uot;It is fun to come back and see the little ones; reading is so important, a child that reads well does well.&uot;

Yasmine Jones, a kindergarten student, said her favorite part of the day was reading &uot;Green Eggs and Ham&uot; with Mullins, but she was also looking forward to events later in the day.

&uot;We are going to have a Dr. Seuss cake, because it is his birthday, he’s a 100 years old.&uot;

Afternoon events at the school included a book giveaway where each child got to pick a book to keep.

At Robert Lewis Middle School Read Across America day was less about Dr. Seuss and more about the impact reading can have on the future.

Students started off the day by pledging to read daily and become lifelong readers, organizer Rosena Profice said.

Guest readers including Mayor Hank Smith, Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders and Rev. Leroy White chose passages from the &uot;Book of Virtues&uot; to read to the students.

&uot;I like reading to the children,&uot; White said. &uot;They responded very well and asked a lot of questions.&uot;

Seventh-grader Kystal Nelson said it was important to read.

&uot;It boosts your imagination and it helps you in your school work,&uot; she said. &uot;And it will help you in the future.&uot;

George Bates, 13, said he spent about 30 percent of his time reading.

&uot;It is fun, I like to read mystery books,&uot; he said.

Ranisha Townsend, 13, encouraged others to spend time reading.

&uot;The more you read the smarter you get,&uot; she said.