Drastic measures: The Tri-Valley Herald reports on the lengths to which Avenue Elementary School in Livermore, Calif., goes to promote literacy through its "Read to Succeed" campaign:

"The children can read anything they want, magazines, newspapers, recipes, comic books, anything. One student even read the dictionary for six hours."

Students who read for six hours out of school over a four-week period receive a free pass to Marine World. I just hope comics edges out recipes on the list of student favorites.