Take the pledge to read.

Pupils at Parkside Education Center did on Thursday as they participated in Read Across America activities.As part of the activities, kindergarten pupils decorated cupcakes like different Dr. Seuss Books and then ate them.Other exercises included a visit by Palmerton Mayor Chris Olivia, who administered the reading oath, "Buddy Reading" between kindergarten and first-grade pupils, and several guest readers.The pupils, such as Dayton Tindula, clearly got a charge out of the cupcake making project."I love them," said Dayton, 6. Because they're so good."Cassie Hager, 5, added, "it was really yummy. I like decorating the cupcakes."So, too, did Eli Christman, 6, who added "I love the cupcakes so much."Holly Sell, Title I Reading Specialist at Parkside, said it's important that students read at an early age."We want to get them excited about reading," Sell said. "We also want to promote adults to read to them at home."Read Across America is an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association.National Read Across America Day is observed in the United States on the school day closest to March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss.