Reading and Rockin' For the Written — And Digital — Word

There are bound to be plenty of double-takes outside the window of this week.

Beginning Friday and continuing through March 6, students from Edmonds-Woodway and Meadowdale high schools will be pursuing literary endeavors as part of the bookstore's Rock 'n' Read Marathon. Students are signing up to read books, magazines and, in a nod to the digital age, the Kindle, for 30-minute intervals in the store's window. Using the store's rocking chair is optional.

“Our student readers, those who know the joy of being immersed in a great novel, were the first to sign up for this 55-hour marathon,” said Meadowdale librarian Rita Ireland. “Our ASB leaders immediately signed up for the midnight hours.”

Edmonds-Woodway High School students are joining to make it the first joint project between the two schools. Meadowdale is the sponsor of the event.

The event is part of National Education Association's  Read Across America Month, which helps promote the love of reading and also celebrates Dr. Seuss, the pen name of the late Theodor Geisel. Read Across America Day will be held on Wednesday to commemorate Geisel's birthday.

Edmonds Bookshop owner Mary Kay Sneeringer has thrown her support behind the effort. and bakery and cafe, both in Edmonds, are providing refreshments to keep readers focused on their tasks. Local businesses are giving donations for the street banner titled "For the Love of Reading.”

A children's book drive is part of the event. Students are collecting gently read or new books for the food bank at . Visitors are encouraged to bring any children's books to the store and drop them off in the boxes.

If you want to read in the window, e-mail irelandr@edmonds.wedn.edu.

The event begins at 11 a.m. Friday and continues to 5 p.m. on March 6.

Here is Patch writer Alison Ersfeld's .