One book, two books, red books, blue books, oh the places you’ll go with reading.

In an effort to combat childhood illiteracy, KPMG, an audit, tax and advisory firm, in conjunction with Allendale Elementary, 5900 Oak St., held a Dr. Seuss themed carnival for K-2 grade students, Dec. 6.

“Literacy is so important,” said Della Moore the executive admin assistant for national campus recruiting for KPMG, “So many of these kids don’t have books in the home, and if they do, then they’ll read them and hopefully that will get them excited about reading, and instill a love for it they’ll have the rest of their life.”

The “Seussival” was held as the Colorado launch for KPMG’s, Family for Literacy Reading Relay campaign, a 90-stop relay encouraging students to read across the country.

The event hosted kindergarten through second-grade students in three groups, having each grade file in the gym at a time. Once seated around the middle of the gym, the students were treated to an appearance by Cat in the Hat and Thing One and Thing Two before separating into seven different groups. Each group had four to seven students who were guided by KPMG volunteers to numerous literacy-themed stations including a hopscotch, fishing, photo booth and a reading station.

“It’s fun listening to these kids ask to hear different books they’ve heard,” said Mike Bearup, KPMG Denver’s managing partner, “We hope they go home and have mom, dad or whomever is in the home read to them.”

For some students, the books received through the KPMG Reading Relay, are the only books they have at home, and according to one of Allendale’s second-grade teachers, Andrea Butbro, the event gave more than books to the students, it made an impact.

“For the kids, it’s a whole new experience for them, and to see that the community cares about them, it’s just huge for them,” she said.

After an hour, elated students walked, hopped and skipped back to class, each carrying a book bundle of five brand-new childhood favorite books, including Dr. Seuss’s classic, “Green Eggs and Ham.”

“The feasibility of buying books isn’t always something parents can provide,” said Allendale Principal, Jennifer Harrington. “If we can get students literate and on level with their reading, doors will be wide open for their future.”

Through this event, KPMG Denver placed more than 500 books in the hands of nearly 100 Allendale students, and the relay placed more than 130,000 books in students’ hands nationwide.