Now in its 17th year, the National Education Association and Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ Read Across America campaign kicks off as the NEA's Cat-a-Van Reading Tour hits the road.

The three-week tour will see the Dr. Seuss-themed Cat-a-Van travel to more than 20 cities in eight states between now and March 14. Sponsored by the NEA and Renaissance Dental, the Cat-a-Van will visit thousands of school children, handing out more than 30,000 special stovepipe "reading" hats, books, toothbrushes and tooth timers along the way.

The theme of this year’s tour is “2 x 2 + 20 = good oral health and literacy habits,” encouraging kids to brush for two minutes, two times a day, and read for 20 minutes each day.

"The success behind NEA's Read Across America is that it gets kids excited about reading," says Dennis Van Roekel, president, NEA. "When children love to the read, oh, the places they can go!"